Lancashire is '˜loneliness hotspot'

The Kirkham-based Silver Line Helpline has named the loneliness hotspots of Britain.

The charity looked at data from more than one million calls which its helpline received since national launch in November 2013, to pinpoint the areas where calls come from.

It shows that more calls come to the helpline from lonely older people in Lancashire - 38,450 - than any other county in the UK, excluding Greater London.

The Silver Line is the only free, national, confidential helpline open every day and night, offering information, friendship and advice to older people.

The Silver Line’s founder, Dame Esther Rantzen, said: “Every day we hear from lonely older people who have led interesting lives but are now isolated, utterly alone, and literally have no one to speak to for days on end.

“Calls come from virtually everywhere in the UK – places as different as the rural north of Lancashire and urban Burnley – but alike in that older people are experiencing the same loneliness.

“Our figures show there are lonely older people living in every street, in every community, and we know that for many night-times are the worst for them.”

The Silver Line relies entirely on donations. Chief executive Sophie Andrews said: “More and more people are calling us every month – and with the festive period fast approaching we expect the number to rise even higher.”

The helpline can be reached on 0800 470 80 90.