A passionate pair whose mission is to combat loneliness in older people have begun the next chapter in their efforts to bring people together.

Wendy Pfeiffer and Diane Bromley were made redundant from their roles at Age UK in Maidstone , where they worked for the charity’s West Kent Befriending Service, back in June.

But they have bounced back to take on new jobs with Inspired Villages, the firm behind the Ledian Gardens retirement development in Leeds, to launch a new service called Inspired Friendships.

Mrs Pfeiffer said: "When Inspired Villages offered us our new roles to manage their new friendship service, it was a dream come true to know that all our lovely oldies, who had come to reply on us, were still going to be supported.

"Over the last month we have told them all the good news and we have continued with safe events and visits to their gardens."

During the summer - when lockdown restrictions were eased - the pair were able to organise larger get-togethers with people who had previously used their services through Age UK.

These included a meet-up in Brenchley Gardens and a coffee morning at Frederic Bistro in Maidstone.

The recent tightening of Covid-19 restrictions, such as the 'rule of six', may mean larger gatherings become trickier, but Mrs Pfeiffer is determined to maintain a network for people who may otherwise be isolated this autumn.

"We have learnt over the past months the importance of having something to look forward to," she said.

"For those of us who lead busy lives, I think it is hard to imagine what it must be like to turn the calendar each month and see nothing. But there is always a plan B and so now we are just meeting up in much smaller groups of no more than six of us."

Last year the West Kent Befriending Service was given what turned out to be a temporary reprieve when Inspired Villages stepped in to provide funding .

Announcing the launch of the new service, a spokesman for the firm said: "We are delighted to bring Wendy and Diane on board to launch Inspired Friendships and ensure their vital work throughout Kent can keep going.

"We are building a village in Leeds, Kent, and feel very strongly that it is our duty to spread the sense of community fostered in our retirement villages further afield."

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone