Almost two thirds of people questioned in Halton said they felt lonely, with one in five having not seen a friend in the past month.

A survey commissioned by Halton Council revealed 28 per cent of those questioned felt lonely 'often', with 34 per cent saying they felt lonely 'some of the time'.

Of the 261 people who took part, the majority (76 per cent) reported experiencing some degree of isolation, with 76 per cent also saying they ‘felt left out’ and 79 per cent saying they were lacking companionship.

Of the survey respondents, 14 per cent said they had not seen any relatives in the last  month, with 21 per cent saying they had not seen any friends at all.

A total of 60 per cent said their routine and behaviours had changed since the pandemic, with 61 per cent saying the pandemic and lockdown had made them feel more lonely.

The biggest factors they cited included lack of contact with others (53 per cent), mental health difficulties such as depression or anxiety (44 per cent), ill health/disability (36 per cent) and lack of confidence (36 per cent).

Loneliness levels in the UK have increased since 2020 and a report to the council said there was a growing body of evidence that loneliness was a significant public health concern, with there being a 26 per cent increase in the risk of dying in people who suffer from loneliness.

It added: "It has been found to have strong associations with depression, cognitive decline and dementia, in addition to hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiovascular disease risk."

The report made a number of recommendations including signposting to services, raising awareness among professionals and the public, identifying opportunities to engage with those experiencing loneliness, and placing a specific focus on transport - such as costs and lack of availability of services - and how it impacts the issue.

The report said a Halton loneliness steering group currently meets every other month with representation from NHS, the council, and charities.

According to the charity Campaign to End Loneliness, in 2022 almost half of all people in the UK reported feeling lonely.

Samaritans are available round the clock, every single day of the year, providing a safe place to talk for anyone who is struggling to cope.

Call 116 123 (this number is free to call and will not appear on your phone bill), 01204 521200 or email jo@samaritans.org.