A PENSIONER says she is willing to go to PRISON rather than pay a penny for her television licence.

Ivy Siegfried, 81, says she has worked hard all her life and resents the fact that the free licence is being taken away.

The controversial decision has sparked a storm of protest from senior citizens right across the country.

A means test will be introduced so that only over-75s on pension credit will not have to have pay.

Thousands of pensioners in the district will be hit in the pocket as a result, and Ivy is furious.

She says she has no intention of stumping up and would rather be locked up than fork out.

Ivy, of Dunlop Street, said: "I'm not paying it.

"I think it's unfair.

"Folk that have worked and saved all their lives are being punished.

"I've never had anything from the government and finally when I turned 75, I did get something.

"Now it has been taken away.

"I feel strongly enough about it that I would go to jail rather than pay it."

Ivy was so delighted to receive the free licence, she framed it every year.

She said: "I always said if I get the free licence, I would frame it and I've done that every single year."

The Greenock grandmother worked in IBM for a total of 25 years and paid the higher rate of national insurance throughout her working life.

She said: "I'm almost 82 now and I still pay tax.

"I worked for IBM and lived out in America for 14 years and worked for the company when I came back until I retired.

"Even when I was younger I used to pay the 'big stamp'.

"If you were married or didn't earn a lot you could pay the 'small stamp' - it was a two-tier national insurance system.

"I always paid the higher amount."

Ivy is urging people to sign a petition to save free TV for older people, more than 600,000 people have signed it so far.

For more information visit https://www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/campaigning/save-free-tv-for-older-people/