A council has opened a Happy to Talk Bench to help reduce social isolation.
Heybridge Parish Council chairman, Richard Perry officially opened the bench, at Plantation Hall on Tuesday.
He was joined by parish councillor Carey Martin and District councillor Chrisy Morris.
The initiative behind the bench is to encourage people to sit at the bench and chat with new friends and reduce social isolation.
Richard Perry said: "This is the first Happy to Talk Bench within the Heybridge Parish.
"People can sit and chat whilst abiding by the social distancing measures. We hope should it prove popular, to introduce more bench and promote further."
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