CUT-price college fees for pensioners will be scrap-ped in parts of south Essex because they break age discrimination laws.

The reduced fees at community colleges will be removed by Essex County Council because it believes they break age discrimination rules that prevent them giving priority to one age group over another.

The decision will affect students at adult community colleges in Basildon and Thurrock, and Rochford and Castle Point, but colleges in Southend will continue to subsidise courses for the over-sixties.

Rita Weiss, secretary of Southend and District Pensioners' Campaign, said she was worried if course prices rose pensioners would not be able to afford them, as they struggled just to pay their electricity bills.

She added: "Learning is very important. I do embroidery and textiles and I have art classes once a month.

"It's important to keep your head going.

"I can't walk and I can't use my left arm by my head's there and I want to keep my head going."

Michael Page, spokesman for Essex County Council, said since the age discrimination legislation was passed in October, the council could no longer afford to maintain the low fees for pensioners' courses.

He added: "Essex County Council will no longer be able to offer a 50 per cent discount on fees for adult community learning courses to people over the age of 60.

"All the courses we offer are subsidised, so we can keep costs as low as possible.

"However, some of our fees will be changing as our Government subsidy has been reduced."

However, Rick Olver, vice principal at Southend Adult Community College, said they had no plans to remove the reduced prices this September.

He said: "We are not looking to eliminate the reduction in relation to age.

"We think these courses are very important in terms of the health-related benefits, keeping people active and ensuring they have mobility. There is also the aspect of meeting people."

Dean Newman, spokesman for South East Essex College, said they would also keep the reduced prices.

Councillor Barry Godwin, who sits on Southend Council's children and lifelong learning scrutiny committee, said he was worried about the developments.

He added: "Pensioners obviously aren't getting the income that working people are receiving.

"Therefore if they want to take up a hobby of some form and further their education in adult life, surely they should pay according to their income."