Red Lodge Chatty Café has people talking on its first day

A community café set up to combat isolation has helped people make new friends on its opening day.

Maxine Simpson set up the Red Lodge Chatty Café, with support from the village's parish council and Forest Heath District Council, because she felt there was nowhere there for newcomers or carers to meet up.

Maxine explained: "We have a lot of people moving into Red Lodge and there isn't anywhere for them to meet people and make friends.

"If you're caring for someone you don't get out and speak to people.

"This is for everyone who is a bit isolated."

The café opened on Tuesday at the Sports Pavilion in Hundred Acre Way and will now be open each Tuesday between 1pm and 4pm. Any profit it makes will go back into the Pavilion.

It is part of the national Chatty Café organisation and features a â chat and natter' table.

"If someone comes in on their own and wants to talk to someone, they sit there so people know they can start a conversation," Maxine said. "There are other tables where people can sit if they just want a quiet coffee."

And it works on opening day a lot of mums with children came in later in the day.

Maxine added: "New friendships were formed a couple of people who were new to the area sat at the table and they've arranged to meet next week.

"I'm really really pleased with how it went."

The Chatty Café is also finding friends with a professional cake maker who lives in Red Lodge offering to make some cakes for them and a plan for a teddy bears' picnic later this summer in conjunction with the Brownies and a parenting group.