An 83-year-old Bristol woman has spoken of her sadness at being forced to leave the job she loves.

Grandmother-of-three Olive Bater has worked in the kitchens at Long Ashton Golf Club for 22 years, but has been asked to retire and will do her final day's work on July 1.

Despite Olive appealing the decision and filing a grievance against her employers, she says they have not given her a reason for her dismissal.

Under current legislation employers can force people to retire at 65 or over but the national charity Age Concern is challenging the Government in court over this.

Olive, who works 39 hours a week washing dishes for £6.18 an hour, says she accepts that people lose their jobs - but is devastated by the "cold and callous" way in which she has been treated.

Olive, of Bishopsworth Road in Bishopsworth, said: "The first I knew of it was when I got a letter left on the side in the kitchen, asking me how long I intended to keep working. I replied, saying that I would like to keep working indefinitely if I could. But they told me that they did want me to continue working there, it was such a shock.

"I have not had any complaints about my work, no mention of any problems before that letter in January. I am in good health, apart from a few breathing problems. I don't really understand why they are letting me go - and they won't tell me why.

"All I was told when I asked the club secretary was that I would know when it was all over. This is not a good way to treat someone who has worked there for so long - I feel like I am being cast aside."

Olive, who drives to work every day and only has Mondays off, said: "Since all this has happened people barely speak to me and no one has said they are sorry to see me go.

"Some members have told me that they think the way have been treated is disgusting though."

Olive's daughter, Gill Hobbs, 54, of Dundry, said: "This job is my mum's life - she started when my dad died in 1986. I am so angry at how she has been treated.

"A member at the club once told me that mum was the anchor of the club, she has always been there. She is very dedicated - when they need her to help out at the last minute they call her and she drops everything."

Long Ashton Golf Club secretary Victoria Rose, said: "It is such a shame Mrs Bater feels aggrieved.

"During the twenty-two years she worked here, she was always treated fairly, and with compassion and decency. We have always been at pains to accommodate and work around her various health issues, for instance.

"The harsh reality is that Mrs Bater worked in our busy kitchen, and there are immense health and safety issues to take into account in such a potentially dangerous environment.

"This club has a duty of care to all its employees and this was a key influencer in our decision to retire Mrs Bater. I realise she loved working here and it is a great shame she feels the way she does. We are particularly upset because we have retained good relations with previous members of staff who have retired.

"Throughout the process we sought legal advice from our representative body, the National Golf Clubs Advisory Association (NGCAA), to ensure we acted in a legal and honourable way."

A European directive outlawed age discrimination in 2000 but in December 2004 the Government announced the law would include a national default retirement age‚ introducing major restrictions on the employment protection available to people over the age of 65.

All employers are able to force employees to retire at or after 65.

Age Concern believes that by excluding people over 65 from protection the Government has failed to implement the EU Directive correctly – in breach of their obligations under European law.

They also say that the Regulations give employers too much scope to justify direct discrimination on grounds of age and their case will be heard in the High Court later this year.

Age Concern and Help the Aged spokeswoman, Anne-Marie Devaney, said: "Older people are often loyal and reliable workers but this can be overlooked by some employers.

"The decision to stop someone's employment should always be based on their ability to do their job, not the age on their birth certificate."