THOUSANDS of women in Clydebank are set to be affected by plans to hike the retirement age, a study has shown.

A new independent report by Landman Economics showed around 4,500 women in the West Dunbartonshire region will be impacted among 242,500 across Scotland.

Researchers found it would cost £8 billion to return to the original timetable set out in the 1995 Pensions Act.

The National Insurance Fund (NIF) had a £20.9 billion surplus at the end of March 2015 and the latest forecasts project a surplus of £26.3 billion at the end of this year and £30.7 billion at the end of 2017/18.

The majority of those impacted in West Dunbartonshire are the 2,600 women aged 56 to 60.

The report outlines five possible options to compensate the women adversely affected, who were born on or after April 6, 1951.

Women’s state pension age will rise from 63 to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018, and from 65 to 66 by October 2020.

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) has been at the heart of raising the profile of the issue. Its members ask for a ‘bridging’ pension to cover the gap from age 60 until State Pension Age for women born in the 50s.

Gil Paterson MSP has welcomed the report and has backed calls for the UK Government to look at the recommendations.

Mr Paterson said: “I welcome the proactive approach taken by the SNP to find out what can be done for the many women in my constituency whose retirement plans face ruination.

“I commend the work done by the WASPI campaign, they have been an inspirational group in challenging this utter outrage.”