VETERANS have accused North-East councils of betraying those who fought in the Second World War.

The Royal British Legion has published a blacklist of councils that deduct money from war pensions of those injured in the war.

The announcement comes just days after the world recognised the sacrifices made in the liberation of Europe on the 60th anniversary of D-Day.

The vast majority of the 410 local authorities in England and Wales do not count war pensions as income when working out council tax and housing benefit.

But 13 councils - mostly in the North-East - include part of war pensions as income, and reduce pensioners' benefits accordingly.

Wear Valley and Easington district councils, both in County Durham, are listed as the most tight-fisted. They are the only two that disregard the statutory minimum of £10 from war pensions when calculating benefits.

Others that refuse to discount the entire war pension include Chester-le-Street District Council and the metropolitan authorities of Newcastle City, North Tyneside Sunderland and Gateshead.

War pensions are paid to those injured during service with the armed forces, or the widows of those who died. The majority are paid to Second World War veterans and their widows.

Tom House, head of pensions at the British Legion, said: "This is abysmal treatment. It affects the poorest pensioners the most."

A spokesman for Wear Valley council said: "The authority disregards the first £10 of any war pension received, for the purposes of calculating benefit.

"This is the statutory minimum and anything above this must be borne by the taxpayer. Members have decided not to include it in the budget, as the authority estimates that it would cost approximately £30,000."

He said the war pensions issue would be considered when future budgets were set.