RESIDENTS' efforts to strengthen community spirit in a remote village is being welcomed by their local Member of Parliament.

Eileen Tindall, who came to Knock, near Appleby, two years ago from Mattersey in North Nottinghamshire, decided to set up monthly events in the newly-refurbished Knock Mission, after listening to her neighbours talk about the lively social life which once existed in the small hamlet.

Mrs Tindall said: "I ran a weekly coffee afternoon for ten years in the village where I used to live.

The Rendezvous Club was very popular with people, who enjoyed the social aspect of coming together once a week to chat.

After listening to my neighbours talking about the good times they used to have in the Mission Room, with suppers, Christmas parties and gatherings, I thought it would be lovely to go back to those days again."

The catalyst for the forming of The Fellside Friends was the forthcoming Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Mrs Tindall said: "We were talking about the jubilee and came up with the idea that if we set up a group or club in the village now, we could organise a Knock celebration for 2002."

She contacted Penrith and the Border MP David Maclean, who has accepted an invitation to launch the Fellside Friends on Wednesday, August 29, at 7pm.

Mr Maclean said: "I think the idea of Friends of Fellside group for the village of Knock is an excellent one.

So many villages have been very badly affected by foot-and-mouth, and people in them are often isolated."

Mrs Tindall hopes residents from neighbouring villages will come and enjoy a night out in Knock.

She added: "Especially in the winter time, people close their curtains and stay indoors.

The Fellside Friends offers people somewhere local to come and enjoy the company of their neighbours.

I also hope to organise trips to historic houses and gardens, seaside visits, dinner and suppers and quiz nights."

The coffee and social evening will be the first major event to be held in the Mission Room since the new toilet extension was completed.

The work was carried out with funding from Eden District Council, Cumbria Development Fund, Rural Project Fund of Voluntary Action Cumbria, Cumbria County Council's Neighbour-hood Forum and HSBC Bank, Appleby.