Pensioners marched on Parliament armed with a 62-point manifesto.

Some lay down in the middle of the road to stop traffic as part of the protest.

Top of their list of demands was a better pension and an end to means-testing.

They want the basic state pension raised from just under £80 to £105 per week and paid in full to all pensioners. They have called for the pension to rise with earnings every year.

Ray Blackwood, from the Coalition of Pensioners in Brighton and Hove, one of more than 1,000 who attended yesterday's lobby in Westminster, said: "We want to have our voice heard.

"This is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and the money is there to give people a fair pension so they don't have to come begging.

"Having worked and paid taxes in this country since leaving school or college, they have made their contributions and deserve a bit back."

Mr Blackwood said there would be more rallies during the Labour Party conference in Brighton later this month.

A general election is expected next year and the National Pensioners' Convention, which organised the lobby, hopes to push its concerns up the political agenda.

David Lepper, Labour MP for Brighton Pavilion, pointed to the means-tested minimum income guarantee, the pension credit and the winter fuel allowance as evidence the Government was improving the lot of the poorest pensioners but said it would be impossible to restore a link between pensions and earnings.

The Tories have promised to raise the basic state pension in line with earnings. Liberal Democrats want to raise it to £105 a week for over-75s and restore the earnings link.