TWENTY-two civil servants are locked in a landmark legal battle after they were forced to retire early by the Inland Revenue.

The Government staff were left devastated after their working lives were cut short at 60 when they wanted to continue until they were 65.

Just five months later they learnt that the agency had increased the retirement age.

The group are now seeking damages for unfair dismissal and began their battle at a tribunal in Newcastle yesterday.

Problems began for the staff at the then contributions agency at Hebburn, South Tyneside, in 1998.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, announced that the department was to merge with the Inland Revenue.

The 5,000 staff at the Hebburn branch had to fall in line with Inland Revenue policy.

Under that directive, the retirement age was lowered from 65 to 60.

The tribunal heard that five months after they were forced to retire, in July 1999, the Inland Revenue revised its policy and increased the compulsory retirement age to 65 for staff with less than 20 years experience.

The Inland Revenue argues that all the employees were aware of the policy change, which has been agreed by the unions, and all signed forms to say they understood they would have to retire when the policy required them to.

Of the 22 workers, 17 are also seeking damages for indirect sexual discrimination because as male workers they were being victimised because they cannot claim a state pension until they are 65.

The tribunal continues.