A KIND-hearted Bury couple are bringing companionship to help ease the plight of elderly people who live on their own.

Susan and Lynn Whitehead launched a Contact the Elderly group in Bury two years ago.

Since then, they have been instrumental in holding monthly tea parties for the group's older guests, boosted by the dedication and support of 12 volunteer drivers, who befriend and accompany the older people to the parties.

There was a special guest at the latest tea party when Bury's Mayor helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of the scheme nationwide. Cllr Michelle Wiseman visited the house of one of the volunteer drivers, Louise Timperley, whose home in Meadway, Bury, was the venue for last Sunday's tea party.

Mrs Whitehead explained: "At the party, there were 10 older guests. They all who live alone, have no immediate relatives for support and have some difficulty in getting out and about.

"The parties always take place on Sunday afternoons as that time is deemed to be the loneliest time of the week.

"Sundays are often a time for family get-togethers and our older guests don't have families or their families live a good distance away."

The Bury group of Contact the Elderly has 12 volunteer drivers and the same number of older people who attend the tea parties.

Mrs Whitehead continued: "Each month we go to a different volunteer host family and they organise tea, sandwiches and cake and welcome the old folk into their homes. They have an interest in the welfare of older people and, generally speaking, they facilitate the get-togethers.

"The result of the parties is that the older guests feel special and valued for the afternoon and assures them they are not forgotten and there are people out there to help."

Two other similar but separate groups operate in Prestwich and Ramsbottom.

Contact the Elderly was launched in 1965 after Trevor Lyttleton met a lady in London who lived alone in a house without electricity. Together with friends, he visited 12 older people and invited them to Hampton Court. Trevor set up further groups and later they were granted charitable status to enable them to raise funds and advertise for volunteers.

* Any elderly people who would like to benefit from the Bury group can ring co-ordinator Gwen Lightfoot on 01925 728969.