Ageist employers in Bradford are wasting precious skills which could boost the city's economy - just because the people who have those skills are over 50, claims the boss of an older person's charity.

Carol Wooller, Age Concern Bradford's chief officer, says impressions that older people are not up to the job are untrue and the district's businesses need to review their recruitment policies.

She said: "There still tends to be a general impression that older people are not capable of doing the job and that they are not as good as younger workers - but that's grossly untrue.

"Lots of research has been done that points to older people being far more reliable workers, but until now we have not seen a concerted effort by Bradford employers to develop recruitment policies which would use older people as a resource.

"I'd like to see businesses positively encourage older people to apply for jobs with them. It's ridiculous that you can't discriminate people by race in this country but you still can by age.

"We have 88,000 retired people in this district and there's a lot of talent and skills being wasted.

"I think Bradford needs to harness as many of those skills as it can to boost this city's economy - there's no point in just letting those skills waste away."

But Bradford Chamber of Commerce policy executive, Mike Cartwright, said the Chamber had not experienced local businesses being under the impression that over-50s were not capable of working.

He said: "Employers are in fact scouring the full range and breadth of the workforce, often for the reason that many young people don't have the knowledge, skills and experience required. Employers have previously expressed concerns over basic numeracy and literacy levels among some young people applying for jobs so that can be an advantage for older people."

Mrs Wooller said the district's colleges also had a part to play in bringing older people back into the workplace.

"I feel colleges concentrate exclusively on young people and that no real effort is made to offer computer skills to older people," she said. "I'd like to know what policies they have for encouraging over-60s to join any of their vocational courses."

A spokesman from Bradford College said they currently had 2,229 students over the age of 60 and added: "We have always been committed to making education accessible to all ages and abilities, indeed our adult education provision offers a large number of vocational courses at more than 90 centres across the district, with many courses having the option of attending either during the day or in the evening to accommodate different lifestyles."

Age Concern has just published a new guide giving tips and information to people on how to tackle age discrimination and how to seek re-training and new work.

Changing Directions, priced at £9.99, is available from Age Concern at 19 Sunbridge Road, Bradford, on (01274) 395144.