A NATIONWIDE charity appeal to help elderly people was launched in a North-East town yesterday.

Help the Aged chose Tesco in Stockton to launch its campaign against isolation and loneliness among pensioners.

The charity decided to highlight the problem after a survey said a trip to the shops was the only outing of the week for many OAPs.

Stockton Mayor Jennie Beaumont and Darlington Football Club defender Ian Clarke launched the campaign, which will be Tesco's charity this year.

An NOP survey for Help the Aged said those over 65 were twice as likely as other age groups to spend more than 21 hours a day alone.

Other findings include the fact that more than a quarter of people over 65 do not have a best friend; almost a quarter of pensioners over 65 see their local supermarket as somewhere to socialise and more than a third to get out of the house. One in five eat meals at supermarkets rather than at home.

The appeal aims to raise more than £2m to combat the problem of isolation and poverty among older people.

Mayor Beaumont said: "I was more than happy to support such a very worthwhile cause. It was good to hear some of the plans Help the Aged have to fight isolation among more older people. For example, there is a Friday night fish and chip club in Middlesbrough, and they are thinking of bringing it over here to Stockton, which is a great idea."