Kendal's mayor has urged community-spirited individuals to join forces to help their neighbours.

Coun Marilyn Molloy's Friends and Neighbours Scheme, supported by The Westmorland Gazette, was launched last Friday and she has pressed more people to come forward.

She said: "Anyone can, for a variety of reasons, need a little short term assistance from time to time, and it's nice to think that we could all do our bit to help those around us."

The scheme, which is the mayor's idea, is intended to form a network of volunteers ready to give a helping hand to neighbours who need a little assistance with everyday problems.

A group of a few streets has a named co-ordinator who links those ready to help with those in need of it.

Carla Reay, head of life skills at Kirkbie Kendal School, said she was eager to get her students involved.

"We need somebody to say these people need help'. We have got a lot of people who are willing to give that help."

Voluntary work was of "huge benefit" to the students, she said, as it showed them parts of the community they would not otherwise experience.

The Gazette's CommuniGate web site service, available free to non-profit groups, is already providing the communication framework for the first Friends and Neighbours group.

The group, on Greenside, in Kendal, has a web site at www.communigate.co.uk/lakes/greenside.

It features an information page, guest book, message board and a helpers list, all of which make the co-ordinator's job easier.

Kate Whiteside, the Gazette's web editor, said the Greenside group's site on CommuniGate had already received 41 hits', or visits, since its launch last Friday.

She said users of the site were pleased with the services CommuniGate offered them.

For more information on setting up a CommuniGate site contact Kate Whiteside on 01539-710183 or email kate.whiteside@kendal.newsquest.co.uk Anyone interested in setting up their own Friends and Neighbours group should contact 01539-773180.