Pensioners in Bradford have launched a campaign to keep hold of beef handouts in the city.

There was outrage three weeks ago when the Telegraph & Argus revealed how the EU scheme which had directed food to thousands of needy people and pensioners was being axed by the Government.

Ministers said there had been such a poor take-up and the scheme was too costly - although in Bradford a robust group of volunteers were bucking the trend by handing out hundreds of tonnes of the meat.

Now the Bradford Pensioners' Association has taken the issue up and is inviting anyone with strong feelings to come to its next meeting, on Monday October 5, starting at 1.30pm at the Bradford CVS offices in Sunbridge Road.

Bernard Whittaker, secretary of the Bradford branch of the association, said: "We normally get about 12 people at our monthly meetings, but I am hoping to get quite a few more to discuss this issue.

"We aim to formulate our plans as to what we can do about it. Axing the scheme will affect a lot of pensioners' cost of living. The food has been a good help to many people."

The Bradford Pensioners' Association, which forms part of a national body, is a strong campaigner for pensioners' rights and members have previously been involved in lobbying MPs over the controversial imposition of VAT on fuel.

The EU meat handouts will end next March after the Government's decision to pull out.

The Clayton Community Helpers, which distributes more of the tins than any other volunteers' group in the country, has been allocated 116 tonnes to give away in October and November in what could be the final round in the city. People on certain benefits, including income support, are eligible but will be charged 5p per tin to cover expenses.

Where it's given away...

The meat will be distributed at the following venues from 10am to 2pm:

October 2: Great Horton Village Hall; October 6: Queensbury Conservative Club; October 7: St John the Evangelist, Greengates; October 8: Canterbury Community Centre; October 9: Eccleshill Mechanics' Institute; October 13: Sutton Library, Cutler Heights Lane; October 14: West Bowling WMC; October 15: St John's Church, Thorpe Edge; October 16: Trinity Church, Lilycroft Road; October 20: Denholme Mechanics' Institute; October 21: Tong and Dudley Hill WMC; October 22: Buttershaw Congregational Church; October 23: Barnardo's Centre, Allerton; October 27: Low Moor and Oakenshaw Community Centre; October 28: Ravenscliffe Community Centre; October 29: St Brendan's Church, Rimswell Holt; October 30: Wrose Community Centre; November 3: St Augustine's Church, Otley Road; November 4: Scholemoor Community Centre; November 5: TFD Building, Broadstone Way, Holme Wood. November 12: New Hey Road Church, New Hey Road, off Wakefield Road.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.