YOUNG adults still find themselves battling loneliness in the age of social media and instant communication.

Cllr Jackie Harris said she was shocked to learnt that 40 per cent of 17 to 25-year-olds suffer from loneliness.

She was introducing a Conservative motion to ask Bury Council to step up its efforts it battling loneliness in the borough.

Cllr Harris said: "I was shocked to discover that 40 per cent of 17 to 25 year olds consider themselves lonely. I thought they were so busy on social media they wouldn’t be lonely."

The Conservative motion sought to back the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness and work within the borough to address the problem.

Cllr Harris highlighted the work already being done by groups like the Women's Institute and the Jewish Social Services, to bring people together and offer a place for people to talk and make new friends.

She urged all parties in the town hall to support the motion.

Cllr Harris said: "This was Jo’s idea and vision, her desire was for this to be cross party.

"It’s a above party politics and social groups and genders and what I would ask is to put party politics aside. I’m sure you know our residents are much more interested in action than party politics."

Jo Cox MP campaigned to improve the lives of lonely people, before she was murdered in June 2016. In her memory the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness was set up to continue her work.

Around nine million people in the country consider themselves lonely all or most of the time, including 24 per cent of parents and eight out of 10 carers.

In the over 75 age group, 3.6 million people say TV is their main form of company.

Loneliness can have physical as well as mental side effects, it has been shown that loneliness can increase the risk of early death by 14 per cent. It is thought loneliness affects the body's white blood cell count and lowers the immune system.

The Conservative motion came the same day PM Theresa May appointed the country's first ever Minister for Loneliness, Tracey Crouch.

The motion received full-party support at the council meeting last week.