A LUNCH club, which aims to combat loneliness among the elderly and act as a place for people to socialise, has been launched in Gifford.

The group, which met in the Goblin Ha’, on the village’s Main Street, attracted more than 20 people to its first gathering.

Jane Steven, chairwoman of the committee behind Gifford Lunch Club, told the Courier: “The community council were sending out a questionnaire about other things and we sent one out as well.

“We wanted to see if there would be interest and there were about 30 people who replied and some other people have come along since.

“I keep reading about the loneliness of older people. I don’t know how much it is happening in the village – it is a very friendly village – but there must be some people who don’t get out very much.

“We felt this was a way of starting the lunch club.”

The group plans to meet on a monthly basis, with the next meeting taking place on November 13 at noon.

Attendees pay £5 at the monthly meetings and are served soup, a sandwich and coffee.

A Christmas lunch is also taking place on December 11, when they will be joined by members of the village’s Good Companions group, with visitors paying £10 for a two-course meal.

Consideration will also be given to visiting local garden centres and the Scottish Parliament.

Mrs Steven thanked the staff at the Goblin Ha’ for all their support at the group’s first meeting, which took place earlier this month.

Ward councillors Brian Small and Shamin Akhtar were both at the group’s first meeting. Mr Small said: “I had the pleasure of attending their inaugural event and saying a few words of support.

“It is the intention to hold the lunch each month.

“Community is so important and also doing all we can to avoid isolation which can be a real problem for older people, particularly in the more rural parts of East Lothian.

“Therefore this wonderful initiative deserves all the support it can get from us all.”

Ms Akhtar also praised the group for the hard work that had already been carried out.

She said: “I think Jane Steven did a fantastic job at the launch of the first Gifford Lunch Club. There was a great turnout and everybody there was really supportive of it continuing.”