Sir.-Christmas is coming, and I wondered if any readers of The Gazette would like to join a social group to make new friends aged 35-plus.

The aim would be to get people together to go to country pubs, social clubs and pub quizzes, and to make friends in general.

I am addressing this letter especially to single parents, the unemployed or part-time employed, as these people can feel particularly lonely at Christmas.

Full-time employees are welcome as well, so long as they understand the aim - that there is a lot of pressure to be happy at Christmas and circumstances can prevail or money can be an issue.

I am a single mum myself. So if anyone over the age of 35 would like to get in touch, call me on 07979 938237 and perhaps we can arrange a night when we can all get together.

-Sally Henderson, Basingstoke.