Alarm over 'epidemic of loneliness'

FEELING lonely at Christmas could affect around 32 million people, research suggests.

- David Williamson

Ministers have been urged to tackle the country's "loneliness epidemic", as the study reveals almost two-thirds of the adult population now lead isolated lives.

The Centre for Social Justice warned the festive season was the "worst of times" for many. It described a "shocking world where Brits face a holiday period empty of friends and family".

Research found nearly six in 10 adults feel lonely most, often or some of the time.

And the think tank warned "loneliness is endemic and getting worse". It claimed this "leaves lives marked by sadness and despair, without the fundamental relationships essential for true flourishing".