The Scottish Government has failed to provide the evidence that it can fund the pensions it has promised under independence, former prime minister Gordon Brown has warned.

Mr Brown said a Yes vote would mean the loss of the "pooling and sharing" of resources, which helps pay for state pensions and other benefits for retired people.

He said he did not believe the SNP's assertions that pensions would continue to be paid, pointing to the value of North Sea oil revenues in the coming years.

The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Labour MP said the issue presented the third major problem for Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, following debates surrounding EU entry and the proposed currency.

Mr Brown was speaking to pensioners at the launch of Keep our British Pensions in Lochgelly, Fife.

He said: "We know when we look at the figures for pensions, we in Scotland get a higher share of the UK pension money."

Mr Brown said that when benefits such as pensioners' credit, the winter fuel allowance and free television licences are added to the state pension, Scots receive around £200 more on average each year than their English counterparts, £200 million in total for the country, because the UK pools resources.

The SNP described Mr Brown's comments as "scaremongering".

Deputy First Minister and SNP depute leader Nicola Sturgeon said: "The last person anyone in Scotland will take lessons from when it comes to pensions is Gordon Brown - the man who destroyed final-salary pension schemes with his £100bn raid, and insulted our older folk with a miserly 75p increase in the state pension.

"Mr Brown's track record means that he lacks all credibility on this subject, so it is little wonder that his speech bears little relationship with reality.

"The Scottish Government has set out clearly and unambiguously that people will continue to receive the pension entitlements they have built up - and any attempt to insinuate ­otherwise is grossly irresponsible."