REGARDING the recent letter, "Why don't OAPs grit our streets?" (Sentinel, February 2), I don't know your gender or age, but your letter was disgusting.

The majority of pensioners have served a long apprenticeship, some 14 years to 60-65, or 15 years to 60-65.

We left school on the Friday and started work on the following Monday. We have seen more hard times, poverty, hardship and famine than you will ever see.

We've paid our NI and taxes all our lives and worked damned hard. Most of us have never had anything off the state. Benefits weren't handed to us on a plate like today.

I worked until I was 67, seven years over, and my husband is 73 and still works three days a week to help out with the pension as it is a struggle.

Why don't you have a go at the younger generation and send them out? Oh sorry, still in bed at lunchtime. Nothing to get up for, or those that have families and have more free handouts, it's not worth going to work – better off at home. You assume pensioners are able-bodied people. If they are and they decide to stay in bed until 9.30am, what's it got to do with you? Nothing.

Send your mother and father, when they retire, to do the snow clearing and gritting if we get up your nose so much.

Our working days were anything up to 12-14 hours per day. We've earned our rest. We don't get free handouts. We've earned it, so don't tell us to put something back into the community. We've done our share.

J ROGERS

Kidsgrove