A BLUNSDON care home hopes to beat loneliness with a warm meal.

Staff at Abbey House will cook up a gut-busting lunch for older people in Swindon next week.

The meal is open to all those aged 65 or over.

Kinga Dabrowska of Abbey House, said: “We know that Christmas is a particularly difficult time for people who live on their own and it is great that there are many initiatives to get communities together during the festive period. But what happens in January?

“At Abbey House, we organise lots of social initiatives for our residents to try to combat loneliness, but we also want to reach out to people in the wider community to give them these opportunities too.

"You don’t have live on your own to join in. It’s an opportunity to come to Abbey House to enjoy a meal and make some new friends.”

The home, which is managed by charity Milestones Trust, was prompted to host the lunch after becoming concerned about a loneliness "epidemic" warned of by national charities.

Staff at Abbey House are able to organise taxi transport to and from the lunch.

However, in order to cover costs, they have asked people to contribute £5 for the meal. A glass of wine will also be provided.

To reserve a place, contact Kinga Dabrowska on 01793 987730 or email kingad@milestonetrust.org.uk.