A national charity is calling on volunteers to host tea parties for elderly people to try and tackle loneliness.

Contact the Elderly is dedicated to preventing isolation among over 75s and is asking for people from Greenford, Southall, Northolt and Hayes to welcome a small group of people into their home for a tea party.

Being a host requires a commitment of just a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon, once or twice a year, and anyone who has a downstairs toilet, easy access to their home and a good sized teapot is eligible.

Each older guest is taken to the home by a volunteer driver.

Contact the Elderly's London Development Officer, Isabella Wise, said: "We're committed to offering a lifeline of friendship to the oldest and loneliest people , but this lifeline in Middlesex is currently under threat due to a real shortage of volunteer hosts in the area.

"Our volunteers genuinely get as much out of the experience as our older guests, so I'm calling for anyone who is interested in giving something back to their community to please get in touch with us as soon as possible."

Middlesex residents interested in becoming a volunteer can contact Isabella Wise, London Development Officer, on 020 8445 1333 or email isabella.wise@contact-the-elderly.org.uk.