SHARSTON House care home in Knutsford is offering a Come Dine With Us invitation to pensioners over the festive period.

The invitation from Kingsley Healthcare is aimed at helping to combat loneliness.

The family-owned firm has issued the invitation for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day at all 25 of its elderly care homes around the country.

Pensioners are being invited to ring their local Kingsley home and reserve a space subject to availability; they will be invited to lunch and afternoon entertainment with the residents.

Local community groups, churches and health and social professionals are being encouraged to spread the word so deserving people hear about the opportunity.

Kingsley’s initiative is being launched in response to stark figures that underline the issue of loneliness among older people over Christmas and the new year.

Research by Age UK published last December showed that nearly a million older people feel lonelier at Christmas time - two-fifths of those have been widowed.

Kingsley’s CEO Daya Thayan said: “The festive period can be a very lonely time for people if they are unable to share it with their family. That is especially the case for older people if they have lost their partners and are on their own.

“Last year we organised a similar event on a smaller scale at a few of our homes. The people who came along really appreciated it.

“Spaces will be limited, so we would ask anyone interested to ring their local Kingsley home as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

“Simply go on to our website, kingsleyhealthcare.co.uk, to find the contact details for your nearest home.”

Nearly half of the older people surveyed by Age UK feel their days can be repetitive, and almost a quarter admitted that Christmas is not a special day for them and passes them by.

The charity estimates that 873,000 people aged 65 and over do not see or hear from someone for days on end over the festive period.