An over 50s-support agency has accused Kingston Council of unfairly targeting older workers for redundancy.

Based on redundancy figures obtained by Wise Owls, two-thirds of redundancies made in the council over the past year were employees over 50.

They also showed of all those recruited, only 10 per cent were over 50, compared with the 25 to 39 age bracket, which made up about 45 per cent of new staff members.

Wise Owls blasted the figures and said older workers were being unfairly targeted.

The agency's director Chris Walsh said: "There seems to be a complacency within Government that by forcing staff aged 50 plus to take redundancy, it will be less painful than for younger workers.

"Traditionally, older workers have been encouraged to take voluntary redundancy when cuts are needed and it looks as if that mindset has not changed.

"However, experience from the last cull of older council workers in the 90s showed that those made redundant often failed to get another job, leaving themselves and their families in poverty, while denuding the council of key knowledge and experience, which meant some had to be rehired as consultants."

Sheila West, Kingston's head of organisational development and strategic business, said: "We very much regret any redundancies, which have been unavoidable, but the council reluctantly finds itself in the same position as other local councils and public bodies in having to make savings."

She said it was important to remember the council had a predominantly older workforce and, outside of schools, the average age of staff was 46.5 and more than 40 per cent of staff were 50 or over.

She said: "So it is not a surprise that where redundancies have not been avoidable, a high proportion are among older staff."

Councillor David Fraser, 83, only retired from his job as a mental health worker last year and still throws himself into his council work.

Coun Fraser said: "I think it's very important to keep those with experience in the council. You get that after years on the job, you don't get it overnight and if we are going to stand the older people down, you lose a hell of a lot."