A government minister has called on people to make a resolution to help a lonely older person in 2014.

Norman Lamb, North Norfolk MP and care and support minister, has joined forces with the older people's charity Royal Voluntary Service to tackle an 'epidemic of loneliness'.

At the beginning of 2013, 6.2 million people said they were planning to try something new and volunteer, according to research by RVS. However, the research also shows Britons are twice as likely to fail with their New Year's resolutions.

The call to action was announced as statistics show 2.5 million older people often feel lonely and that more than half the people over 75 live alone and a fifth of them often go an entire day without spending time with anyone.

Mr Lamb said: 'As the Christmas festivities draw to a close, many older people will be facing a lonely January, spending days without seeing or speaking to anyone. Some may have even spent Christmas day alone. Every one of us can take action to combat loneliness. If we all make a resolution to help an older person this New Year we will give them the companionship they deserve in their later years and will help to build a fairer society.'