IF THE claims made by Julia Drown MP, that elderly people are being routinely beaten by their carers in our town, are true, then what a sick society we have become.

She says that she has evidence of a series of disturbing cases where housebound pensioners have been frequently mistreated by the people who are paid out of the public purse to look after them.

Ms Drown declined to go into details because she wants to protect the identity of those who have suffered at the hands of their carers.

Instead she has reported her findings to the appropriate authorities for action to be taken.

Meanwhile Swindon Council, through Coun Jemima Milton, claims not to have heard of one case of abuse by a carer in the town.

That's the sort of civic response one would expect when it looks like a major scandal is about to come out, although to be fair to Coun Milton, she admitted that such things could be going on behind closed doors.

The elderly in our society, whether they live alone, with relatives or in special accommodation, deserve a great deal more respect than they get from life now.

To be abused by their so-called carers is more than a disgrace it is a tragedy and those who commit such acts are the lowest of the low.

There needs to be an inquiry in Swindon today not tomorrow, not next week or next month to see whether or not if these claims can be substantiated.

It is up to Ms Drown and Coun Milton to get their acts together with all the appropriate bodies.

It's no good just saying this happens everywhere else in the UK and that Swindon is no different.

Swindon should be different.

One day we will all be old and in need of special attention, not abuse.