A BRIDESTOWE man is supporting a national campaign to push for legislation that will force the Government to give men and women a choice on whether they wish to carry on working after they reach retirement age. Sidney Thompson is the North and West Devon representative for Heyday, a non-profit group created by the charity Age Concern to support people approaching early retirement. In December, Heyday is challenging the Government in the High Court over the future of mandatory retirement ages and the employment rights for people over the age of 65. The action, which if successful will affect thousands of West Devon pensioners, is being supported by Age Concern. Mr Thompson, 62, who lives in Poole Hill, said: ?Forcing people to retire is denying them the right to work ? a right which everyone should have regardless of age. ?The Government has failed in its legislation around ageism in the workplace. Currently, workers have no rights to stay in employment past 65 and are being driven out of work.? In December 2004, the Government, he says, announced the law would include restrictions on the protection available to people over the age of 65. All employers will be able to force employees to retire at or after 65 and will be able to refuse to recruit anyone over the age of 65. Heyday stresses that the population Government statistics show that almost half the adult population will be aged over 50 in just ten years? time. Its survey show that 80% of Baby Boomers ? those born in the 1950s and 60s ? in the South West want to work beyond state pension age; almost 10% of Britons do not want to retire at all, but 59% of those based in the South West say it is impossible to get a new job within ten years of retirement. Heyday believes that by excluding people aged over 65, the Government has failed to implement the directive of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 of the European Union, which outlaws age discrimination in employment and adult education. Mr Thompson concluded: ?Taking the Government to court is not a step we are taking lightly. Heyday is not a pressure group, but we need to act and the time to act is now. ?We are determined to challenge the existence and legality of forced retirement. It?s what people approaching retirement want; it?s good for business, good for the economy and good for society.?