Over 65% of the UK population want business owners to lose the right to tell people when to retire, according to a survey by Age UK.

Under the current system, employers can tell any member of staff to leave work once they pass their 65th birthday, regardless of whether the individual wants to stop work or not.

The coalition government has said it intends to scrap the forced retirement age, but has given no firm dates as to when this would occur.

"Forcing people in later life out of the labour market when they want to work, save for their pensions and pay taxes, is nonsense. It makes a mockery of the government's plans to help people work longer," said Michelle Mitchell, charity director of Age UK.