Northern Ireland's first non-party political election campaign, The Pensioners' Manifesto has been launched today.  

Older people will be taking to the streets to demonstrate the strength of the 'grey vote'.

The Pensioners' Manifesto campaign bus will travel across Northern Ireland for the next two weeks.

The campaign is supported by Age Sector Platform, Age Concern Help the Aged NI, National Pensioners' Convention and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NI).

The road show will allow older people throughout the region to participate in the election campaign and will also offer them the chance to speak to some of their local political representatives.

Ivan Baxter, a member of the campaign group, said: "This sort of pensioners' election campaign has never been attempted before.

"It is something that applies to every older person across all communities in Northern Ireland, which is why we hope that every older person will really get behind it.

"This is a manifesto to give those who vote the most, something to vote about! There are often very few opportunities for us older people to connect with our local representatives, and this campaign will allow this to happen very easily."

The pensioners have called for:

• a commitment to ending poverty by increasing the basic state pension.

• a larger winter fuel grant

• improved access to quality social and long-term care.

• an end to discrimination.