A day centre has celebrated 25 years of providing a place for people living in rural areas to meet and socialise.

The Hopton and District Day Centre, which meets every Wednesday at the High Street Chapel in Hopton near Diss, caters for villages between Knettishall and Garboldisham down to Bury St Edmunds.

Those who cannot get themselves to the chapel are picked up and dropped off back home by mini bus.

Joyce Barrett, day care manager, said: 'It brings people together. Some of them are living alone and it is their only day out a week. It is social time that they have together and it brings people out of their shell.'

Those who attend the day centre are giving tea and coffee and a two-course meal.

They are also taken on trips out, have entertainers come in to visit and play games.

The centre has a team of 25 volunteers and trained professional staff.

Mrs Joyce added: 'The service gives carers a break. It is wonderful to be celebrating 25 years. We have excellent volunteers.'

And to help keep the service running for another 25 years, Suffolk County Council have donated £5,000 to the day centre.

Councillor Carol Bull said: 'The service brings a lot of joy and is appreciated by the people who use it.

'A major problem in rural communities is loneliness and this is a wonderful service which does a wonderful job.'