Isolation and loneliness are all too common among elderly people.

But a woman who has just become a pensioner, is looking to turn this around in Swindon by setting up a social group.

Ann Godfrey already runs the highly successful Contact The Elderly in Wootton Bassett and is looking to form another branch in Swindon.

Since 1975 she has organised volunteer drivers to pick up 12 elderly people in the town and take them to a private house for a get together once a month.

Mrs Godfrey now needs a dozen volunteer drivers and a dozen hostesses to start up a Swindon group.

She said: "I need a driver for every elderly person in the group because most need to sit in the front passenger seat because of arthritis and so on.

"All I ask from drivers is that they give up three hours once a month on a Sunday afternoon to pick up group members, take them to a tea party and then back again.

"And I am looking for 12 hostesses who are prepared to give a Sunday afternoon tea party once a year for between eight and 12 elderly people.

"They must have a downstairs toilet, but don't need lots of soft chairs. Many guests are quite happy to sit on hard chairs. It is not a lot to ask of anyone but it can make such a difference to someone who has lost their friends and family," said Mrs Godfrey, 60, of Keats Close, Wootton Bassett.

Contact the Elderly is a national organisation with 180 branches. Mrs Godfrey set one up in Swindon in the 1970s but it folded shortly after she handed over the leadership to someone else.

She has been running the Wootton Bassett group for 25 years and it is as popular now as when it started. And 90 per cent of the original drivers are still taking part.

"Having a tea party is such a simple thing but our members enjoy it so much. Even with all the horrific weather last Sunday, they still wanted to come," said Mrs Godfrey.

Before she moved to Wootton Bassett Mrs Godfrey and her husband worked for The Samaritans. Her husband then joined the Lions Club and she saw an advertisement for Contact the Elderly.

When she volunteered as a helper she was told the nearest branch was in Bristol, so decided to set up a local group.

If you would like to volunteer as a driver or hostess, phone Mrs Godfrey on Swindon 853236 for more information.