Athens, May 16 (RHC)-- Thousands of elderly Greeks defied the heat and protested on Tuesday over planned pension cuts they say will leave them living on the fringes of poverty. 

The latest round of planned pension cuts, which will see some pensions slashed up to 18 percent, is set to take effect from January 2019. 

Carrying flags, banners and with some using shepherd's crooks and walking sticks, the pensioners marched through the streets of Athens chanting: "We demand what was stolen from us" and: "The people are the ones who are paying for everything." 

Some of the elderly protesters were unable to continue until the end of the march and sat on a bench watching their fellow protesters go by.