Thousands of people over 60 across Northern Ireland are facing a lonely Christmas.

According to Asda's new Christmas Community report, one in 10 across the UK are unsure if they will speak to anyone between December 15 and January 1.

The report surveyed 1,000 over 60s and revealed that last Christmas, almost one in five had days when they did not speak to a single person.

Forty-two per cent said their mental health suffered due to this lack of interaction.

Asda Larne Gail Caldwell with Linn Road Community Centre group (Image: Morrow Communications) To combat this, Asda is encouraging people over 60 to visit their local Asda store and enjoy a 'Winter Warmer' - a deal that offers a soup, roll, and a hot drink for £1 until the end of 2024.

The supermarket is also aiming to transform its in-store cafes into 'Chatty Cafes' for senior citizens.

Gail Caldwell, community champion at Asda Larne, said: "Even though we don’t have a café, we always make sure to support the elderly within the local community in any way we can.

(Image: Morrow Communications) "The group provides a warm space to meet for the local community, with a bowl of soup and wheaten, cup of tea or coffee and traybakes, as well as a place to chat."

The supermarket will also dedicate £600,000 of Asda Foundation grants to tackle loneliness among the elderly.