A TEA party for elderly residents in the Alvechurch area is set to be the first of many to help isolated members of the community make new friends.

The event was organised by charity Contact the Elderly, and welcomed four residents over the age of 75, for an afternoon of tea, cakes and good company.

The guests got dressed up and were chauffeured to and from the party by volunteer drivers.

One guest told the driver on his way home: "It was so lovely to have my company valued and to know that there were people who wanted to talk with me."

Charity volunteers Gill Talbot and Alan Wodzynski are now looking for more elderly residents to join future tea parties, held across Bromsgrove and Redditch.

Alan said: "Our role is to manage the hosts and drivers and, most importantly, find lonely and isolated elderly. The last of these is very difficult. Our guests are, by definition, often without any local friends or family and, as such, are invisible."

The charity is also seeking volunteers to host the events and drive guests to and from the parties.

For more information email alan@gtassociatesdmcs.com or call 07956 301 299.