A PIONEERING project helping to tackle loneliness has found a temporary home with one of the high street’s biggest names.

Staff from the Ageing Better Middlesbrough programme, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund, have been invited into the town’s Marks and Spencer store.

The aim is to provide information about the project to customers and also advise anyone who may be experiencing loneliness.

Representatives will be present in the store on Monday (July 11), Tuesday (12) and Friday (15) between 11am and 5pm.

Lesley Spaven, a community development team leader with the programme, said: “We know from our own research that for some older people a trip out once a week to do the shopping is the only human contact they have which is why working with stores like Marks and Spencer is important."

Terri-Anne Rigg, store manager at M&S Middlesbrough, said: “Having the team in store and on hand to speak to our customers has already been really well received.”

In addition M&S staff will also be hosting coffee afternoons with Ageing Better Middlesbrough in the town this month.

The details are:

Monday July 18, Easterside Community Hub, TS4 3PZ from 1.30 -3.30pm

Tuesday July 19, Langridge Centre, Berwick Hills, TS3 7LU from 2 – 4pm

Wednesday July 20, Trinity Methodist Church, Whinney Banks, TS5 4JS from 1.30 – 3.30pm

Thursday July 21, Linthorpe Community Centre, Linthorpe Road, TS5 6JG from 2 – 4pm

Friday July 22, St Marys Church, The Oval Brookfield, TS5 8EU from 2 – 4pm

Saturday July 23, Stainton Memorial Hall, Meldyke Place, TS8 9AU from 10 – 11.30am.