People in Letchworth are being urged to join a new community army helping to make the town a friendlier place and reduce loneliness.

The Connectors Army has been set up by Herts County Council to spread the word about the many activities and groups in the town.

Café and shop workers, hairdressers and newsagents are just some of the people who have already signed up to the new scheme, and now the search is on to recruit more people who regularly speak to local residents through their job.

The scheme has been launched by the county council as part of its Connecting Lives Campaign, which aims to reduce loneliness.

Rebecca Owen, manager of Talents Hair, Beauty and Nails in Eastcheap, has already joined the Connectors Army and believes the new project will help bring the Letchworth community even closer.

She said: “I come into contact with so many people during the course of the day and think the Connectors Army will be a great way of encouraging people to get involved in some of the local activities already available in Letchworth.

“I’d encourage lots of people to get involved and make Letchworth an even better and more friendly place to live than it already is.”

Anyone who signs up as a ‘connector’ will be given hints and tips on how to share information about the benefits of being more connected to activities in Letchworth. They will also be given leaflets to hand out.

Councillor Colette Wyatt-Lowe, cabinet member for adult care and health at HCC, said: “We are looking for people who have existing, regular contact with people through their work – such was waitresses, hairdressers and taxi drivers – who are able to link their customers to the activities and opportunities available in Letchworth.

“We’re not asking people to add another job to their busy day, but through the contacts they already have every day, they are in a unique and perfect position to signpost people to becoming more involved in community life.”

This initiative forms part of the council’s Connecting Lives campaign, which will also introduce chatter tables in cafés, and enable people to set up their own activity groups.

The project is being launched in the town this autumn. Anyone interested in signing up as a community connector, or to find out more should email connectinglives@hertfordshire.gov.uk.