THE kettle is on and the biscuits are being laid out in readiness for a new initiative by Age Concern South Lakeland, which aims to get elderly people chatting on the phone.

Elderly people across the region are being invited to join the phone-a-friend scheme which puts those who love a good old fashioned natter in touch.

Volunteers will phone members at prearranged times once a week and scheme co-ordinator Jean Birkett believes this will reassure isolated people.

"At least once a week someone who is genuinely interested in their news, and even their grumbles, will phone," she said.