More than two fifths of adults in Cornwall and Devon who feel lonely also fear something will happen to them and no one will notice.

At the same time, more than a quarter of adults (28 per cent) often feel alone and like they have no one to turn to, according to new research released by the British Red Cross today.

The Red Cross spoke to more than 4,000 adults in the UK and found that nearly half (48 per cent) of people in Cornwall and Devon feel always, often or sometimes lonely.

It is a feeling that Mary Morton, aged 55 from Camborne, can relate to, having been living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) for more than 20 years.

Alongside the debilitating illness, Mary also manages diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, an essential tremor and a number of other medical conditions, which combined, have left Mary house-bound and isolated.

At one point during her mid-thirties her illness became so severe Mary couldn’t get out of bed for two years. Despite improving enough to finally return to work, Mary was eventually forced to retire early from a job she loved.

Mary said: “I was 34 when I was diagnosed with ME. Back then people didn’t understand the illness. They thought I was being lazy or had yuppy flu, but it is so incapacitating. It’s not my choice to live like this.

"My choices have been taken away because of my conditions. I don’t have any control over it.

“I first started to feel isolated when I retired from my job at the local dry cleaners. I loved that job and didn’t want to give it up but I just couldn’t do it anymore.

"Then, when my son went off to University and my daughter moved to the North of England I began to feel the loneliness more and more. There were no distractions. There is only so much tele' you can watch.”

Mary began receiving visits from Charlet Treloar, a community connector with the Red Cross Connecting Communities service, in partnership with Co-op. Community connectors offer support tailored to the needs of each person.

Mary said: “Charlet has been great. Her visits have inspired me to do a few different things. She gives me the encouragement to look at the things I want to do for myself. It’s not about being ‘mum’ or ‘gran,’ it's thinking about the things that make me feel better and to have a better quality of life.

“Having Charlet come to visit has been so helpful. Sometimes, it’s just a smile from a friendly face that can make the biggest difference.”

Last year the British Red Cross supported more than 291,600 people by giving them someone they could turn to in their hour of need. The charity is now calling on everyone to show their kindness this winter, by helping the Red Cross continue supporting those most in need so they don’t feel alone.

Charlet Treloar, community connector at the British Red Cross said: “Loneliness and social isolation doesn’t discriminate. Life circumstances can change in the blink of an eye, meaning it can happen to anyone, no matter your age or background."

People can text KINDNESS to 70141 and donate £5 to help the Red Cross continue its work.