A new app and Facebook group aimed at tackling the loneliness and isolation often felt by many stay-at-home mums with young children has taken off.

Lucie Bell, who lives in Stevenage Old Town, is mum to five-month-old Joseph and found it hard to make new mum friends at first.

The 33-year-old said: “You become a mum and your whole life changes, so all of a sudden you’re thrust into this new world where you have no routine and spend a lot of time alone with your baby.

“Being a new mum is really tough, as there’s so much to get your head around and you’re exhausted and emotional, so it can be a lonely time if you don’t know others in the same position who can assure you what you’re experiencing is normal.

“I did antenatal classes and met a fantastic group of mums who have been a wonderful support, but I wanted to meet more mums who lived near me and who had babies of a similar age.”

Lucie joined Mush – a free app which lets you create a profile detailing the area you live in, the ages of your children, and what you’re interested in, then you can see who else is on it near you and message them to arrange to go for a coffee or a play date.

Mush also helps you organise group meet-ups, like coffee in a child-friendly café or a weekly group walk.

Lucie has also set up Facebook group ‘Stevenage Mums’, which currently has 180 members.

She said: “There are loads of great playgroups and classes in Stevenage, but it can be nerve-wracking trying to strike up conversations in a big group of people you don’t know, so I joined Mush and have since met some lovely mums I would probably never have met otherwise.

“I’m now leading Facebook group Stevenage Mums, where we can chat about all things mum-related, from tips on the best schools, to where the best baby groups are, and we’ll often arrange to meet at them so we don’t have to go alone.

“Through Mush and the Facebook group, we have a coffee meet-up in the Old Town every Thursday morning, where the babies have played while we’ve got to know each other. It’s a great way to have some normal adult conversation and friends.”