HEALTHCARE is the most important issue for pensioners as they decide how to vote in the forthcoming general election, a poll revealed today.

Some 60% of over-65s ranked it as "very important" in influencing their choice of party, the MORI research for Help the Aged found.

Pensions and law and order also scored highly, with 56% and 53%, respectively, describing them as very important.

Opinion varied between issues on which party had the best policies.

Among those who said healthcare was very important, Labour had an 11-point lead over the Conservatives, with 36% against 25%.

But on law and order the Tories had a much stronger 32-point lead (51% to Labour's 19%).

On pensions there was a clear split among older people. Those aged 65-74 gave the Conservatives a four-point lead (29% to 25%), while among the over-75s 36% favoured Labour compared with 29% who preferred Tory policies.