Liberal Democrat peer Lord Dholakia visited a WRVS's meals on wheels service to highlight how his party would help the elderly.

Lord Dholakia, who lives in Haywards Heath and was the first Asian to be elected to the old Brighton Council in 1962, dropped in to a centre in South Street, Lancing, yesterday.

He said: "We believe what we need to do is effectively ensure people have adequate money to enjoy the remaining part of their lives."

Among Lib Dem promises are free personal care for non-medical help with things like dressing and washing for elderly people who need it and a pledge to boost state pensions.

Labour and the Conservatives have both rejected free personal care for the elderly, a key recommendation of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care for the Elderly.

The Lib Dems also promise to increase a single person's pension by £5 a week, rising to £10 for over-75s and £15 for over-80s. Couples would see their pensions rise by £8, £18 and £28.

The increase, the highest among the three main parties, still falls a long way short of the minimum of £90 for all pensioners recommended by Age Concern.

Nearly a third of voters in East Worthing and Shoreham are pensioners.

It is a percentage mirrored, or surpassed, in the majority of Sussex constituencies.

Lib Dem candidate Paul Elgood said: "Under the Liberal Democrats, 21,000 pensioners in my own constituency will have their pensions increased by £5 per week, and 9,800 will have their pensions increased by £10 and £15 per week.

"The pensioner lobby is certainly one not to upset and I don't think many pensioners will have forgotten Tony Blair's mean 75p rise in the pension last year."

David Higginson, who organises the Lancing meals on wheels service, said lack of support for pensioners living at home was the most pressing problem.

He said: "I certainly think they could improve the care in the community, care in the community seems to be lacking. It seems to be getting worse."

Dorothy Engmann, director of Age Concern in Brighton, Hove and Portslade, singled out pensioner poverty as the biggest issue of the election.

She said: "It is that lack of a decent income that prevents older people from enjoying many of the good things in life."

Also on Age Concern's post-election wish list is free personal care, an improved health, housing and care system for the elderly, better public transport, and legislation to outlaw age discrimination.

Labour promises a minimum income guarantee of £100 by 2003, policies to reward savers, an increase to the winter fuel payment every year and help with day-to day issues such as TV licences and free bus passes.

The Conservatives are pledging to match Labour pension increases.

In addition they promise to take one million pensioners out of the income tax threshold, protect savings and the homes of people in care and long term care bonds, criticised as another form of taxation by Age Concern.

Mr Elgood's Tory opponent Tim Loughton said the Lib Dem's pledges on free personal care and pensions showed they were on "fantasy island".

He said: "Both these propositions are completely uncosted . . . it is all going to come from this 1p on income tax and 50 per cent for higher earners, which has all been spent several times over."

Ivor Caplin, defending Hove for Labour, said pensioners would benefit from continued economic stability while the minimum income guarantee meant a single pensioner would get £100 a week.

He said free personal care would hit other health services but accepted Labour had been stung by criticism of the 75p rise in pensions.

He said: "The 75p, with hindsight, was a mistake. That is why we have rectified that this year with the biggest single increase in the basic state pension for 25 years."