An elderly couple was so lonely they called 999 and officers responded by going round for a cuppa.

Greater Manchester Police sent two police constables to the home of Fred Thomson and his 95-year-old wife on Tuesday afternoon, after calling emergency services suggesting her husband was having difficulties.

Officers repsonding to the call found “the couple did not need medical attention and in fact the call had been made out of desperation”.

PC Stu Ockwell, who attended along with a colleague said: “What we found was a lovely elderly couple who were caring for each other, probably finding it a bit difficult to care for each other with their ailments and their age, and that were in need of a bit of company if anything.”

Mr Thomson, who is going blind, is being looked after his wife, whose first name has not been disclosed, and is understood to be in poor health herself.

PC Ockwell said: “We spent half an hour with them, put on the kettle whilst Fred told us the stories of when he was in the war. He’s an amazing character and had us in fits of laughter and to me it made my day.”

Mr Thomson it was a “nice change to have somebody to talk to, somebody different to talk to”.

He said: “The police are very civil sort of people anyway as you would expect. I was very pleased to know there was help available and pleased to talk to them, because sometimes you can be a bit isolated as you get older, but they made me feel at home.”

The Argus: Fred Thomson.  Picture: ITN

PC Ockwell said Mr Thomson and his wife had “good support from neighbours and children, who visit every other day” but that Mrs Thomson's memory “appears to be fading a bit”.

“What was clear is that, although it is hard, they just want to look after each other,” he said.

“Sometimes people struggle, especially at this time of year. The help is there, we just went to comfort them.”