Cash-strapped health authorities and local councils are forcing older workers to retire against their will at 65 despite the imminent introduction of new age discrimination laws, an upsurge in complaints to Age Concern, the charity, has shown.

A large minority of both public and private sector employers are also continuing to hire and fire on the basis of age even though this will be outlawed under the legislation which comes into force in October, according to a separate survey of more than 100 employers conducted by Nabarro Nathanson, the City law firm.