VALENTINE'S Day came early for a number of Thurrock residents thanks to the work of a local charity and volunteers.

Loraine Coleman of Re-engage, which helps ease loneliness among older folk by arranging tea parties for them and supporting them at home, explains, saying: "It's been a very special delivery day for all our precious Re-engage tea party guests.

"They all received a beautiful Valentine's hamper delivered by our lovely volunteers. A ver special thank-you is due to Nilo from Tealightful for preparing these lovely hampers.

"And to all our Re-engage Group Coordinators for organising the deliveries and driving and all our volunteer drivers for driving all over Thurrock to distribute these special treats.

Plus a very big special thank-you to the Rotary Club of the Mardyke Valley for their extremely generous donation of £500 which enabled us to give each one of our tea party guests a Valentines surprise.

"Lots of love was delivered today.

"We had to suspend our tea parties for January and February due to the Omicron virus and we wanted our tea party guests to know that we are always thinking of them with love.

"Our tea parties will resume again from March. Lots of love and hugs to all our fabulous volunteers and tea party guests."