Hundreds of elderly people across Carmarthenshire will spend Christmas alone - and a national charity is urging neighbours to ‘call with a card’ to show that they are not forgotten.

Action for Elders says that longer lifespans mean many more older people are living alone and experience loneliness, particularly over the Christmas period.

The plea comes after it was revealed that almost a fifth of Welsh pensioners were dreading Christmas.

Action for Elders chairman Lorraine Morgan said: “There’s a lot of research showing that loneliness among older people is a growing social problem. It brings unhappiness and in many cases depression that affects people’s health.

“While most of us will enjoy the holiday period with our families and friends there will be those who will see no-one. Seeing a friendly face and having even a brief chat can make a difference - because people know that they haven’t been forgotten.

"We’re asking people with older neighbours to call around and deliver a Christmas card. It’s a small gesture that can mean a lot."