A SWINDON man is fronting a campaign to make age discrimination illegal.

Bob Banister, 66, is challenging the Government by launching Age Concern's Age Equality Contract after experiencing ageism himself.

He currently works through the employment agency Manpower for the Salvation Army Housing Association.

Initially he was filling in until somebody could be found for the permanent position.

After a couple of months some colleagues suggested he apply for the position himself.

But when he applied for the position he received a letter stating that the company has a policy of not appointing people over the age of 65.

The company broke no law because there is no legislation banning discrimination because of age.

Mr Banister took early retirement after working for Rover in Stratton as a design engineer. He has been temping ever since.

He said: "If you get passed 65 then somehow you feel like a non-person. It is a real shock.

"I wrote to the personal director asking for an explanation or a justification why they won't employ people over 65."

Mr Banister is still working for the housing association on a temporary basis.

He joined Jo Osorio from Age Concern Swindon and Julia Drown, MP for South Swindon, at the House of Commons earlier this month.

Age Concern is fighting to eradicate ageism in five key areas employment, health, social care, learning and in the market place.

Mr Osorio said: "What we are looking for right across the board is for the Government to take steps to end age discrimination.

"Age discrimination takes place when you are told that you are not being considered for a job because you are over 65 or when you are refused credit because of your age or cannot get a loan because of your age- the upper limit for getting a student loan is 55.

"Society will win if it breaks the age barrier and uses older people. Ageism denies services everyone should have a right to, standing in the way of the real contribution any of us over 50 have to make to the workplace, economy and the community."

The Salvation Army Housing Association is different from the Salvation Army charity.

Richard Smillie, chief executive for the housing association said: "While the association is currently acting within the law it is however reviewing its policies in this area."