PEOPLE living in Southampton and across the UK are being asked to open their windows and shout ‘hello’ to their neighbours every lunch time.

A loneliness support charity says it wants to raise awareness of those who were already isolated before the coronavirus outbreak and are now at home.

Communicare, which hopes to eradicate isolation and loneliness across the city, has called on households to support each other during the lockdown.

It comes as part of the Daily Echo’s #ThereWithYou to support the community and shine a light on unsung heroes.

The charity has since launched the Cooee campaign to run throughout April in a bid to “release some happy endorphins”.

Communicare Manager Annie Clewlow said: “These people are unable, understandably, to access the lunch clubs and activities we would normally run, which are now closed, and we want them all to stay safely at home.

“But we know they will still need our support. We want to encourage people to reach out, metaphorically, to those they live near.

“We’re launching the hashtag #Cooee and ask people through our social media channels to shout this, or any form of friendly greeting, from an open window or over the garden fence, wall or hedge at a safe social distance to their next door neighbours.

“Even if they can’t see them or their windows aren’t open, we hope enough people will do this at 12 noon nationwide every day from April 6 to help those who are housebound at the moment realise they are not alone.

“Hopefully this will help release happy endorphins and for people to realise they are not alone.”

Communicare’s Good Neighbours’ Network normally supports nearly 400 individuals and families annually, covering over 2,300 tasks including support such as one-to-one befriending.