"I've just read an interesting article written by a young job-seeker who now believes that she has no chance of ever getting on the employment ladder due to the 'bed blockers' staying on into their late '60's and '70's."

Well, the other side of the coin is that, at 61 one of the reasons I'm continuing to work and will be up to 67 is because I have 2 children to fund through university - without my support they would have no way of doing it.