AN EMOTIVE proposal to claw back money from recipients of war widow and war disablement pensions has been dropped. An ex-servicemen's group has welcomed Swale council's U-turn.

The cash-strapped borough had considered taking war widows and war disabled pensions into account when calculating benefits.

This would have affected 92 claimants across the borough. The Royal British Legion headquarters at Pall Mall, London, intervened in disgust.

Brian Lyons, of the local Soldiers, Sailors Air Forces Association (SAFFA) Forces Help, said members were "over the moon" that the plan had been dropped. "We were absolutely annoyed that Swale Council was considering taking these pensions into account.

"They suffered because they were defending us and fighting for Queen, or King, and country. Why should they be penalised by the penny-pinchers, who seemed to be forgetting their big salaries?"

Council leader John Stanford (Lib Dem) said the suggestion was put forward by his predecessor, George Colvin, who left the council in December to take a job in another part of the country. He said: "As far as the council was concerned, it was one option which was put up in a whole range of economies that could be made.

"This matter was dropped and there were a variety of reasons. It goes without saying that it is a sensitive issue."