A new group to bring older men together to help alleviate feelings of isolation has been launched in Bury St Edmunds.

Men popped into Oakes Barn in St Andrew’s Street South on market day yesterday for the first Blokes at the Oakes meeting.

The club has been started by Age UK Suffolk to help alleviate loneliness by keeping men socially connected after retirement. The charity is also working with the East Anglian Daily Times to address loneliness in the county through the campaign Shine a Light on Loneliness.

Maurice Scrivener, 77, who turned out yesterday, said: “I just lost my wife a year ago and I’m starting to get out.”

Dave Staines, 67, said he came along because he was “curious”. “We have got groups for women, but we don’t have that many groups for men, do we?”

When asked if he ever feels lonely, Mr Staines, who lives on his own, said: “I think everybody gets lonely at times, but I do try to make the effort to get out.

“But even so you can feel lonely, and at something like this [the club] you can get out and meet other people and share your experiences and have a laugh.”

Gavin Hodge, of Age UK Suffolk, said the charity could also signpost people to services and support, such as Suffolk Family Carers, at the club. “There’s so much help out there, it’s knowing about it that’s the problem.”

Blokes at the Oakes meet on the first Wednesday at every month. People can drop in from 10.30am.