Women from Stroud who are campaigning against the impact of recent pension age changes are heading to a regional rally this weekend.

Members of the Stroud branch of WASPI - Women Against State Pension Inequality - are joining counterparts from the Midlands for a rally in Birmingham to highlight pension difficulties faced by women born in the 1950s.

They argue that changes to the state pension age from the 1990s speeded up in 2011 by a parliamentary act have left such women little time to prepare for their financial future, and so they may now by thousands of pounds worse off.

The rally in Eastside Park, Birmingham takes place on Saturday July 14, and is one of five regional rallies taking place across the country.

It is being held on that date to coincide with the birthday of famous suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.

Earlier this year Stroud’s MP David Drew chaired a WASPI meeting at St. Laurence’s Church, having written to over 5,000 women across the district inviting them to discuss how the changes had impacted them - around 500 came, leaving only standing room.

On Saturday’s rally, Stroud WASPI coordinator Elizabeth Stanley said: "It will be a fun day with children's activities as well as speeches and a chance to sign the new WASPI pledges and letters.

“But it's about a very serious problem and we think it's important for WASPIs from Gloucestershire to join with the groups from the Midlands and Wales, both to show our support and to experience being part of a national movement."

The Stroud group are travelling by minibuses and still have some spaces.

To book a place email strouddistrcitwaspi@gmail.com or phone 07706619295.