France to cut deficit by raising pension age - and UK to follow - Business

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That would mean delaying retirement until 70 for British men and 65 for women.

The French move will not come into force until 2018 and is part of cost-cutting moves across the eurozone.

French Labour minister Eric Woerth said there was a "real moral obligation" to adopt the measures because of the country's ageing population and rising budget deficit.

"We cannot at the same time promise to work less long and not have a deficit," Woerth said. "If we want to end our pension system's debts, working longer is unavoidable."

But the measures rank some way behind other countries, with Greece raising its retirement age from 65 to 67 gradually over the next few years.

Aon Consulting found 60% of Britons expect the current austerity measures will force them to delay their retirement. People working in the legal and financial sectors are most likely to be planning to retire later.

Across Europe, Aon found the French and Germans are the most pessimistic with 74% and 73% expecting to work longer.