One in five older people in the UK admits to feelings of loneliness – and this only intensifies at Christmas. What is causing this crisis and how can we combat the sense of isolation?

‘If I gave up work, what would I do?’

“Christmas is the busiest – and most exciting – time of the year in Cats Protection shops,” reveals Adele Allen, shop manager at the Cats Protection shop in Stone, Staffordshire. “There’s an incredibl

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Our round-up of the funny, fascinating and unusual stories this fortnight