A NEW community lunch club is helping to combat loneliness.

The weekly drop-in session offers a hot meal at St Chad's church hall on Gladstone Street in Winsford to anyone who wishes to meet new people.

The project has been running successfully for a few months.

Curate Joe Smith said: "It started with around two or three people coming along and has snowballed. We now have more than 30.

"It gives people who may feel isolated an opportunity to get out of the house to have a chat and make new friends.

"People bond over a meal. It has become a nice little community."

Town mayor Cllr Gina Lewis will officially launch the new lunch club on Wednesday, November 7 along with local charities and police community support officers.

Vicar Chris Moore and volunteers from the parish help to prepare warm simply cooked meals every Wednesday.

"There is a lot of social isolation," added Rev Smith. "People now know each other's names and can catch up on each other's news and follow each other's lives.

"Many might live on their own. Some people have said it is the only time they get out of the house all week and really look forward to it.

"This gives them a chance to share their life with someone."

The church has completed all the necessary paperwork including obtaining a food hygiene certificate and DBS checks to run the new project.

A selection of games such as jigsaws and dominoes are available for people to use as the meals are prepared.

Meals have included home made soup and a roll, chilli with garlic bread and various pasta dishes.

Lunch is served from 12 noon until 2pm.