MANY older people complain that loneliness is their biggest problem. It is a common feeling especially among the bereaved, those without a family and those whose children have moved away.

A lot have neither the energy or money to venture far from home, and some may be too fragile to do so.

Hopefully help is at hand. April has been chosen as the month to "Hug a Granny". HUG stands for Helping Unite Generations and celebrities Chris Tarrant and Davina McCall are backing a campaign which aims to bring young and old together with events spanning the generations.

Many older people feel that no-one wants to make friends with them, talk to them or ask their opinions, but they should not be ignored or lumped together patronizingly as people who share similar interests. They deserve to be part of society like everyone else and let's hope they are given the chance with events being organised locally.

Help the Aged research shows that 200,000 elderly people never see relatives or friends. Isn't that awful?

Let's trust that the crusade will help to improve the lives of many of our lonely, elderly and that they will not be too scared or stubborn to accept any offered hands of friendship.