A PENSIONER who suffered alone during lockdown was overjoyed when old workmates came to see him after the Tele highlighted his plight.

John McNab spoke to the Telegraph in March about his sense of despair after being stuck at home for more than a year.

The 75-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, had lost close family and friends over the years and being trapped at home on his own exacerbated his feelings of isolation.

But John who lives in Sir Michael Street was given a huge lift when some of his former colleagues got in touch with him after reading the story and seeing how isolated he was.

The Telegraph caught up with him at the Compassionate Inverclyde Hub at St John's Church hall.

He said: "I hadn't been out for nearly a year and my mobility was getting worse.

"Then some of my old workmates from Fleming, Reid & Co. came to my door.

"They handed in food and chocolates and gave me their numbers so I could keep in touch.

"I couldn't believe when they came up to the door. I was so surprised after thirty, forty years to see them again.

"It was lovely."

John doesn't have any immediate family but has a good friend in Largs whose daughter does his shopping for him every week.

He is pleased that the hub at the church hall has re-opened.

Prior to lockdown John had been put in touch with community care forum Your Voice and used to drop into the hub at Compassionate Inverclyde.

During the pandemic local community connector Amanda McEwan continued to support him, but John is relieved that the hub has re-opened.

John said: "It's great here.

"I lost my mates and I went to the GP and said that I felt quite isolated and he put me in touch with Your Voice and I came along here.

"It gets me out, I can just about still manage to - I'm not finding it very easy.

"This gives me a bit of company.

"There's a good sense of community in Inverclyde.

"If someone has problems people look out for each other."