Tragedy of isolation hits 1.8m adults

CHECK the turkey is cooked, check the roast potatoes are crispy, check the fizz is chilled - and make sure you check on your neighbours, especially if they live alone.

- BY ALEXANDER BROWN

That's the message from ministers as a poll revealed around 1.8 million people will spend Christmas Day by themselves.

Minister for Civil Society Stephanie Peacock said: "No one should face Christmas alone. This festive season I encourage everyone to look out for their neighbours. A simple conversation or a small act of kindness can be the lifeline that ensures no one feels forgotten."

The YouGov survey of 4,384 adults also revealed nearly one in 12 people had at some point gone more than a month without a face-to-face conversation with another adult, not including a quick exchange with a stranger.

That's what happened to mum-of-two Sarah-Jayne, from Essex, who was isolated after a leukaemia diagnosis.