Many people over the age of 50 are finding it difficult to comfortably fund their retirement, research has found.

Research from LV= shows 69 per cent of people yet to retire are more concerned about their prospects than they were a year ago and seven per cent have been able to increase their long-term savings.

Mike Rogers, LV= group chief executive, said: "In the midst of recession, it is understandable that people are focusing more on their everyday costs and on supporting their families.

"But it is still worrying that one in five has felt forced to reduce their savings towards retirement at this important time."

The study discovered that less than one-third (30 per cent) of people had an idea of the size of their pension savings and 21 per cent have enlisted the expertise of an independent financial advisor.

Many people are relying on their own judgement to make sound financial decisions, it said, as more than half of people (61 per cent) have looked for no financial advice at all.

It was recently reported that the compulsory retirement age may be changed as the government brought forward a consultation on the subject.