The National Trust has been criticised on the front page of The Times for increasing its prices for pensioners.

“Yearly membership for the over 60s now costs £48, almost 32 per cent more than in 2012,” the newspaper said in its story.

“Over the same period the cost of a standard adult membership has risen by 19 per cent and inflation has increased by only 3.5 per cent.

“The charity has also been accused of trying to hide discounted deals from older members: hundreds of thousands are missing out on a cheaper price.”

But the trust said its price increases amounted to just 25p a month.

A National Trust statement in response said: “The National Trust currently offers nearly one million senior members a heavily discounted price of 25 per cent off our adult rates.

“This discount is offered to senior members who have held either an individual or joint membership for at least five of the last ten years as a way of saying thank you for their long-term support.

“That costs the Trust over £11m a year (in lost income) but we believe it’s right to reward our members’ loyalty in this way.

“The senior discount for the National Trust was always intended to be 25 per cent. However, over recent years this increased to more than 30 per cent. We’re now readjusting the discount back to 25 per cent.”

The National Trust is the latest charity to appear on the front page of national newspapers this year, following the League Against Cruel Sports, War on Want, Friends of the Earth and Age UK.