An elderly people's home in York has opened an internet café to allow its residents to contact friends and family through the web.

The Fordlands Elderly Persons Home, in Fordlands Road, Fulford, opened its new internet lounge which has two compters with internet access, a webcam, sofas for the residents to relax on and a shop.

Jessie Clithero, of Fulford, who works at the home, said: "York Cares approached us and asked if we had something in mind that they could do as a project and I immediately suggested an internet café.

"The elderly often suffer from loneliness because they do not see their friends and family as often as they would like. There are residents here who have relatives abroad and with computers and a webcam they can communicate face-to-face with them. York Cares donated one of the computers and we raised money through fundraising to buy another computer and a webcam".