TAX-free pensions for long-serving armed forces personnel have been backed by more than 1,000 people in Oxfordshire.

A petition has been set up on the Parliament website calling for the Government to scrap taxes on pensions for those who have served more than 22 years in the military.

The petition has been signed by 56,534 people across the county, including 1,107 in Oxfordshire.

If it secures 100,000 signatures it is likely to be debated in the House of Commons.

Royal British Legion Oxfordshire chairwoman Lynda Atkins, who served in the RAF, said she supported a debate on the issue.

She said: "I am always in favour of making sure that people who have been in the forces and served their country can get the best possible deal.

"That should not put others at a disadvantage but it is right to give some advantages to people who, in many cases, put their lives on the line.

"It would be really go to have a proper debate in Parliament."

Ms Atkyns said that there was already a precedent for good financial deals for serving military personnel, such as flying pay for those in the RAF.

She said: "Flying pay recognises the fact that many are having to push themselves right to the limit.

"It recognises the extra dangers they face.

"I do think it is a really important recognition of the risks that they face."

The petition, which is available to view and sign on petition.parliament.uk, has been particularly strongly supported in the Witney constituency, home of RAF Brize Norton.

It has been signed by 402 people there, while a further 315 people have signed in Wantage, home of RAF Benson and Vauxhall Barracks in Didcot.

Any petition with 10,000 signatures gets a response from the Government and if it reaches 100,000 signatures is eligible for a debate in the Commons, which could happen in the coming months.