CUMNOCK woman Johann Hobson has been overwhelmed by the response to a campaign she is involved with.

Ms Hobson is co-coordinator of the Ayrshire Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) group, which is mounting a legal challenge to changes to state pension for women.

They hit their target of £100,000 nationally almost two weeks ahead of schedule, which will cover the legal costs of taking on the government on behalf of women born in the 1950s who are affected. Their initial aim of £50,000 was reached in a day – breaking records as one of the fastest ever growing appeals made through the Crowdjustice system, which enables individuals, groups and communities to come together to fund legal action.

Within a week, £75,000 had been amassed and when £100,000 was collected with 10 days of the appeal remaining, WASPI advised the Crowdjustice team to close it down.

Ms Hobson said: “The Ayrshire WASPI group is growing in numbers and is a committed and motivated organisation with lots of ideas and plans to take the campaign forward.

“This will include a rally, Painting The Town Purple, event with posters promoting our campaign and reaching out to women of the 1950s who still are not aware of how the changes to state pension age affect them.

“We are fully supported by all our local Ayrshire MPs and East Ayrshire Council has passed the WASPI motion for fair transitional payments for women affected by changes to state pension age.”

A leading London law firm has taken up their case, while their cause has been backed by 47,500 people on a social media site as well as two former pensions ministers, Steve Webb and Baroness Altmann.

Fundraising director Jane Cowley said: “Women Against State Pension Inequality Ltd want to thank each and every person who has donated to the fund. It’s inspiring to know that we have such a huge level of support and it is a real validation of our decision to pursue a legal case.”

Campaign leaders recently met with MPs from the SNP and also discussed with Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Ministers how Labour might support the WASPI cause.

Also lending her support to the group was Corri Wilson MP, who met Ms Hobson recently to accept a petition filled with hundreds of signatures of local supporters.

“Our many local groups are making themselves heard in Tory marginal seats up and down the country and there is a growing awareness that the votes of 2.6m women born in the 50s could make a big difference at the next election,” added Ms Hobson.