Minister for work and pensions Iain Duncan Smith agreed more needed to be done to help older professionals back into work, as he met with jobseekers and pensioners in Hampton Wick on Thursday.

Members of community groups Room for Work and Richmond Job Club met Mr Duncan Smith in Hussar’s coffee house in Hampton Court Road, and explained the difficulties faced by jobseekers in the area, which has an especially high ratio of managers and professionals relative to the rest of the UK.

Mr Duncan Smith, Conservative MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, said some of the schemes for job seekers being run in the borough were very interesting, and helping experienced professionals seeking work was a priority.

He said: "Our work with regard to youth unemployment has been paying off, and the number of young people out of work has been plummeting.

"Here in Twickenham you have seen a massive fall in unemployment and it is well below the London average.

"Many people who are looking to get back to the working world after an extended absence or career change are having trouble however, and we are now looking at providing support for the over-50s in this situation."

The Richmond Job Club meets on a regular basis at the Stoop rugby ground to support members through the job hunting process.

Group leader Steve Shade said one thing that was unusual in Richmond was the high number of skilled professionals who struggle to adapt to the working world after an absence.

He said: "These people have done a great deal with their lives and have a huge amount of experience to offer.

"For many though, if you are 35 and looking for a career change or are returning to work then it's less likely an organisation will be interested in you, and that shouldn't be the case."

Mr Duncan Smith took the opportunity to offer his support for Conservative parliamentary candidate Tania Mathias, and said: "She is very energetic, hugely committed and very local, which are the key attributes in any MP."