NEARLY three-quarters of over-60s in Yorkshire and Humberside believe age discrimination should be outlawed.

Research by the Help the Aged charity showed 73% of people want an outright ban.

As part of its Just Equal Treatment (Jet) campaign the charity is calling for ageism to be treated the same as sexism and racism.

It wants a single equality bill to include a ban on age discrimination in the provision of goods and services, including health and social care.

More than one in 10 older people say they have been spoken to in an ageist way.

A spokeswoman said: “It’s high time the Government stopped dragging its heels and took an active role in fighting age discrimination.

“Ageist attitudes and practices are a daily blight on older people’s lives, affecting the type of care they receive, the insurance options available to them and even the way they are spoken to.

“We live in a society where racism and sexism are not tolerated, yet age prejudice is tolerated and even accepted in goods, facilities and services.

“Age is the only equality group left without legislative protection. This is a gross inconsistency and very short- sighted when you consider that older people are active voters and the fastest- growing population group.”