CARING ESTHER'S PLEA TO SUPPORT LIFELINE FOR LONELY

Loneliness can strike at any age ...no one should feel forgotten, left out or past their sell-by date

- Giles Sheldrick

ESTHER Rantzen is in the fight of her life but is still battling to fund the helpline for lonely older people she founded.

The campaigner, who has stage 4 lung cancer, created The Silver Line service in 2013.

The only 24-hour such service is proving more vital than ever, with record numbers calling in over the festive holidays.

Dame Esther, 83, said: "It is crucial The Silver Line helpline is free and open 24/7 every single day and night of the year." The lifeline is run by Age UK at a cost of £4million a year, and is supported by Queen Camilla, by ambassador Dame Joan Collins, 90, and by the Daily Express crusade Respect For The Elderly.

Across Christmas and New Year it received a record 5,041 calls in 10 days, illustrating the depth of anguish for those suffering in silence.

Dame Esther - who had answered Silver Line calls over Christmas in previous years said: "Loneliness can strike at any age, at any time. All older people need to feel they are highly valued and no one should feel left out, forgotten or past their sellby date."

The service also made 3,678 friendship calls in which helpline volunteers are matched with a lonely older person, to provide a regular chat.