TWO charities have called for more Government help for pensioners after a report revealed 95,000 over-65s in the region are living in poverty.

A survey carried out by the National Pensioners' Convention showed that almost one in five North-East pensioners fall below the poverty line. Nationally, this figure is 1.8 million - one-fifth of over-65s.

The report also revealed that ten per cent of Britain's pensioners are malnourished due to poverty, and more than 31,000 pensioners nationally died in the winter of 2004-5 because they could not afford to heat their homes.

The survey blames the gap between rising living costs and increases in the state pension.

Since 2002-3, the price of gas has increased by 48.7 per cent, council tax by 22.8 per cent and water by 12.6 per cent, yet state pensions have risen by only 8.7 per cent to £84.25 a week for single pensioners and £134.75 for couples.

Paul Bates, spokesman for Help the Aged, said: "Help the Aged wants to see the state pension set at a level which secures dignity in retirement, with a reduction in complex and intrusive means-testing of benefits like Pension Credit.

"Pensioners in the North-East urgently need more and better help from this Government." An Age Concern spokeswoman said: "The Government should increase the basic state pension to at least £114 a week, so that pensioners have enough money to make ends meet.

"But rises in the state pension should also be linked to earnings so the basic state pension maintains its value over time and older people do not get poorer the longer they live."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: "Over three million people receive Pension Credit, which means that they are guaranteed an income of at least £114.05 per week.