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She's always ready to swap views on politics, TV shows, and most things in between.

Trouble is, at 84 her legs can't keep up with her mind and a painful hip means she hardly ever leaves her bungalow.

She could go weeks with no visitors to talk to and just her television set for company.

Maud has friendly neighbours. Her sister phones every evening. What's missing is someone to call in, sit down, and enjoy a cup of tea and a chat.

But a group of volunteers saves her and dozens of other housebound pensioners from lonely isolation.

Age Concern's Befrienders do just what their name suggests – each one is matched with a client and pays them weekly visits.

Sudbury-born Maud, who has lived in her home since 1938, is teamed with volunteer Ivy Rowan.

"I really enjoy her visits, and look forward to them every week," said Maud.

"I don't get many visitors. At my age a lot of my friends have died.

"My hip problem means I can't walk any distance. I'm more or less confined to my house and garden and I don't go outside much at this time of the year.

"My sister used to take me shopping once a week but since she broke her hip she can't drive into Sudbury any more.

"I have good friends and neighbours but I spend a lot of time on my own," said Maud who used to work at Sudbury's Gainsborough Silk Weaving Company.

"I have a lot of things in common with Ivy and we never stop talking. Time just flies when we are together.

"I'm really interested in politics. I always have been because of the hardship our family suffered during the Depression when I was young.

"So we talk about that, and books – I love reading.

And I'm very interested in historic buildings, especially church architecture.

Ivy has been visiting Maud once a week for about six months.

She has done voluntary work for most of her life, so when she moved to Sudbury three years ago to be near her daughter, joining Befrienders was a natural step.

"I thought it would be a really good way of getting out and about and getting to know people," she said.

"I get a lot of fun out of my meetings with Maud," said Ivy, who also works for Age Concern's Telephone Befriending Service.

"Politics isn't a subject you can discuss with everyone – but we can both see both sides of the arguments.

"

Sudbury's Befrienders group currently has 50 "matches" on its books and 33 housebound people on its waiting list.

Two volunteers, Dorothy Carpenter and Joanna Barton, have just been presented with long-service certificates after five years with the organisation.

But more volunteers are urgently needed.

Befrienders' manager Daynore Cameron said: "We are now able to take on people aged 16 and upwards, so school students could join, too.

"We are asking for just one hour a week and it could make such a difference to someone's life. It's a very rewarding thing to do.

"Most of our volunteers are retired, and we have a lot more women than men.

"In fact we have a special need for male befrienders as a lot of elderly men would really like another man to chat to."

The Sudbury service operates within a ten-mile radius of the town and also covers Hadleigh.

Volunteers are given training and travelling expenses are paid.

Anyone interested in being a befriender, or who would like someone to visit them, should contact Daynore Cameron on 01787 373491.