SIR - The government has taken the lid off our pension pot in order to boost the economy.

Unable to tax us more they want us to give our pension away by spending it on holidays, cars and houses.

Think twice.

If you want a pension of £1,000 a month from the age of 65 to 85, then on your 65th birthday you should have £240,000 cash on the table. Not shares, bonds or promissory notes. Actual hard cash.

To get that for every month of your working life from age 25 to age 65 you must set aside £500. It does not matter where it comes from the Government, your employer or your own saving.

You do not accumulate by speculating!

Over the next few months there will be many schemes and offers to get your pension money. Do not fall for them. At this moment the political parties are giving all sorts of promises, guarantees and assurances to get our votes. But we all know that they are not worth a grain of sand in the Sahara desert. The only difference between the Mafia and all financial services is that they are legal criminals, while the Mafia is not.

Remember you will get back every month in retirement twice what you have set aside every month. Where else can you get a return of 200%?

How much have you saved for your pension this month?

ROBERT DOUGHTY Worcester