AN MP has vowed to get to the bottom of who is responsible for pensioners facing huge repayments after being told they have been overpaid by their pension scheme.

Harwich and North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin held a meeting at Long Meadows Community Centre to meet former Harwich Dock Company workers and ex-staff at Petrochem Carless.

Some pensioners have been informed they must pay return as much as £30,000 after the schemes entered the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Now Mr Jenkin wants to arrange a meeting with the chief executive of the Financial Assistance Scheme, along with pensioners from both schemes.

He said: “I am absolutely appalled at what some people have been confronted with.

“They have put money away in good faith and then are being told they have got to pay it back.

“I would like to wave a magic wand and make it right, but it is highly unlikely.

“At least, we should be able to make the people accountable and provide a proper explanation.

“It is absolutely inhuman. If there is some way of getting compensation for what they have suffered, we need to look at that.”

Mr Jenkin urged anyone else affected to contact him.

A spokesman for the Financial Assistance Scheme said it was aware a number of issues had come to light and urged anyone with any concerns to contact it directly.