An elderly pensioner has penned a heartbreaking letter, detailing the isolation that comes with old age.

Eunice Wardle, 86, says she feels ‘invisible’ and her emotional letter chronicles the lack of community spirit in her Northenden neighbourhood.

Her words end with the sad phrase ‘no one wants you when you’re old’.

The widow penned letter to the M.E.N saying she feels invisible to neighbours who never knock on the door to check on her.

Eunice says she is certain there are many other older people who feel isolated and is encouraging people to check on their elderly neighbours.

She said: “It’s so isolating but it was not like that years ago. It has changed over the years.

"Northenden was a lovely bustling place but all the shops have closed. People come and go in their cars. You never see children playing in their gardens.

“When I moved here there were kids playing on the street. I just don’t see people now.”

Retired English and Maths teacher Eunice was devastated when her husband of 64 years Bill, also a teacher, died two weeks before Christmas.

Since then Eunice, who doesn’t drive, leaves the house only to go to the shops in Northenden and is visited by a district nurse who dresses her legs twice a week.

She said: “We used to go out every day and go on trips. Until about 12 months ago Bill could still drive the car. But I have never driven.”

Eunice’s youngest son, Roger, died suddenly on a family holiday in Spain while her eldest son Ian lives in Maidstone.

With no family nearby, the mum-of-two says she feels isolated.

She said: “It seems as if I’m invisible here. I’m not usually a down sort of person but I wish there was more friendliness.

"I have lost my main purpose in life, which was Bill.

“We never thought of it before – age was just a number to us. I’m not invisible and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like this.”

Eunice and Bill moved to their house with Roger in 1978.

She said: “We had neighbours and when I went to the shops I used to do bits of shopping for people.

“Neighbours have either died or moved away. In the end Bill and I were the only ones left here.

“On V.E Day, I looked out of the window and thought maybe there would be some flags out or a bit of a do but it was there was nothing.”

Eunice has campaigned for more community spirit in the past.

In 2012, we featured a letter from her and husband Bill, also known as James, in which she appealed for more community events at Christmas.

Here's the full version of Eunice's heartbreaking letter:

This area where I live, I am invisible to the many people who surround me in their houses.

Yes, they are busy, but there were no celebrations to mark the VE Day 70th anniversary.

I was 16 at the time working near Albert Square, there were no celebrations there or in Fallowfield where I was brought up.

The point I am making, in my 87th year I get no gentle knock on the door asking ‘are you all right?’

My husband died two weeks before Christmas 2014 and I was alone without a friendly relative or neighbour.

The district nurse does come for about 10 minutes to dress my leg twice weekly.

It was different when we came here in 1978, my husband and myself looked after old elderly neighbours, we did have help from a couple about three years ago but since then, nothing.

We brought a family up, we were sociable without being overly friendly, and today I am trying to keep everything together.

I have coped so far but for how long? Any solutions? I don’t drive – never have, I shop locally with my trolley, I keep myself tidy, and I don’t score horses, so what is it?

I know the answer, it’s age, the old saying, ‘no one wants you when you’re old’.

I never lived by it, but I am now.

Mrs Eunice B Wardle

***Would you like to help brighten Eunice's day? We'd love to surprise her with your cards and letters. If you would like to send one, post it to: Wayne Ankers c/o Manchester Evening News, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8EF and we'll deliver it to her.