The 52,000 women in Norfolk who suffered because of changes to the state pension age have been handed backing in their fight for justice - after county councillors unanimously voted to support them.

Norfolk County Council's chairman Karen Vincent will write to prime minister Rishi Sunak, along with Norfolk MPs and the Norfolk WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign, confirming all members of the authority want to see a "just solution".

Eastern Daily Press: Karen Vincent, chairman of Norfolk County CouncilKaren Vincent, chairman of Norfolk County Council (Image: Archant)

Changes to the state pension age saw women born in the 1950s left with an extra six-year wait before receiving their state pensions - leaving many facing dire financial straits.

In 2021, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman confirmed the Department for Work and Pensions "did not get it right" in making women aware of these changes from 2005 onwards - and that amounted to maladministration.

But the women have yet to receive compensation, despite the State Pension Inequality for Women All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), co-chaired by Waveney Conservative MP Peter Aldous, saying they should get "fast and proper compensation".

Eastern Daily Press: Waveney MP Peter AldousWaveney MP Peter Aldous (Image: Parliament Live)

READ MORE: Campaigners say 3,000 WASPI women will have died with no compensation

At a meeting of Conservative-controlled Norfolk County Council on Tuesday (March 28), a Labour motion, amended by the Conservatives, was unanimously agreed.

The motion said the changes were "unfair" and confirmed the council's "continued wish to see a just solution".

Eastern Daily Press: Labour councillor Mike Smith-ClareLabour councillor Mike Smith-Clare (Image: Labour Party)

Labour's Mike Smith-Clare said the women had been overlooked for far too long, while Conservative Alison Thomas said the change had been unfair.

READ MORE: Norfolk's 'dying' rivers 'need extra council protection'

Liberal Democrat group leader Brian Watkins said "a great injustice" had been done, while Green councillor Ben Price said he had seen the impact on his mother.

Eastern Daily Press: Prime minister Rishi SunakPrime minister Rishi Sunak (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

A bid by Lib Dem Rob Colwell, to get the council to protect rivers by exploring whether legal rights could be inferred upon them was also discussed.

But the council agreed that should be referred to the infrastructure and development committee, to see if it was feasible.