A CHARITY which helps the elderly plans to open a branch in Huddersfield.

Contact The Elderly was founded 40 years ago by Yorkshireman Trevor Lyttleton. It provides social groups to help the elderly combat loneliness and forge friendships.

The charity runs 265 groups in the UK - 20 in Yorkshire - and is funded through cash gifts and grants.

The groups meet for afternoon tea one Sunday a month at the home of a volunteer host. Both hosts and drivers are needed to start a Contact The Elderly branch in Huddersfield.

The charity's Yorkshire development officer, Mary Robinson, said: "Each host will generally only have to hold one of these gatherings a year and will entertain up to eight elderly people and four volunteer drivers."

The drivers work on a rota system to take the elderly people to and from the tea party.

Drivers tend to work once a month and look after two elderly people. They also stay at the tea party to help build up friendships.

Ms Robinson added: "We could do with some volunteers on stand-by in case someone is ill. It is just a little time, a lot of fun and makes a real difference."

She said group members could be people who lived alone and could not get out without help. It could also be that they had no family living close by.

Anyone who can help as hosts or drivers should contact Ms Robinson for details on 01535 632592 or email mary@contact- the-elderly.org