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A smiling Lord Prescott has posed with volunteers in Hull who are part of a project aimed at fighting loneliness and isolation.

He talked to volunteers from bus company East Yorkshire's Chatty Bus project at the city's Transport Interchange early this morning.

It was his first public appearance since suffering a stroke last June.

Since then it is believed the 81-year-old Labour peer and former Hull East MP has been recovering at home in Hull with his family.

That period also saw him stay out of the spotlight during Labour's general election campaign at the end of last year.

It was Labour's first general election campaign not to feature the former deputy prime minister since the 1960s.

(Image: Hull Daily Mail)

Today, however, he was all smiles as he laughed and joked with a group of volunteers at the Interchange.

In a tweet, the bus company said: "Lovely to see @johnprescott chatting to our Chatty Bus volunteers in Hull Interchange this morning.

"Thank you so much to all the volunteers who have given up their time today to help combat loneliness, your enthusiasm and dedication is inspiring."

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It is understood he was heading to London and the House of Lords where peers are due to start debating the European Union Withdrawal Agreement Bill later today.

The Chatty Bus initiative saw 50 volunteer ambassadors join bus services today to talk to people, distribute badges and raise awareness of the problem of loneliness.

They were covering covering routes to and from Hull, Hessle, Cottingham, Willerby, Longhill and Anlaby.

The bus company’s website and social media is also signposting people to more information on loneliness, including organisations who can help people become more involved in the community.

East Yorkshire’s area director Ben Gilligan said: "We thought Blue Monday would be a good day to repeat the project, as what better way to face the bleakest Monday of the year than by having a friendly and uplifting chat with someone on the bus?

"If we can help improve the life of even one person who’s living with loneliness, it will be worth it."

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