A day centre manager has raised concerns about the lack of support and opportunities on offer to the town’s elderly population.

Veronica Harman has been fundraising manager at Halstead Day Centre for 16 years and has spent over three decades working with older people.

She fears, with people living longer, more and more pensioners are becoming isolated and have very little support when it comes to living alone.

Mrs Harman said: “There is always a focus on isolation and loneliness, however there doesn’t appear to be a lot being done about it.

“Funding for so many of the services on offer have been cut or withdrawn completely in the last decade.

“Halstead is a small market town with quite an elderly population so its certainly a big issue here. About 70 per cent of our members live in the rural villages where there is very little for them to do and with so many cuts to buses its impossible for them to get around.

“It’s important to remember some older people don’t see anyone other than a nurse for 15 minutes in the mornings and evenings.

“Isolation is a big factor in many older people’s lives and there just isn’t enough being done to help them.”

Mrs Harman is confident the service provided by Halstead Day Centre is of benefit.

The charity-run centre, which is based off Bridge Street, will celebrate its 40th anniversary in November and at present has a membership of more than 60 people. I t relies entirely on funds raised via membership fees, charity events and grants from businesses.

Mrs Harman believes a lack of understanding about the centre means it is often forgotten by older people and hopes more pensioners will use the services on offer there.

She added: “Our main aim is to keep people living independently in their homes for as long as possible.

“Some think we are a care service but I want people to think of us as a day club, a social place for people to come and have some fun.

“The day centre is like a home from home. We allow members to choose what they want to do.

“The routine is always varied and we offer all sorts of activities such as dancing, debates and even a trip to our beach hut in Brightlingsea.

“I would love to see the centre one day rely entirely on membership fees and we are always on the lookout for more members.”

Her fears about loneliness were echoed by Prime Minister Theresa May who this week appointed MP Tracey Crouch to lead a new initiative targeting social isolation.