A SOCIAL group is celebrating its fifth birthday.

The Harbour Group in Southminster holds A Coffee Morning with a Difference.

The group has been meeting every Thursday from 10am to noon in Memorial Hall, Southminster, for the past five years.

Volunteers and residents held a special session last week to mark its fifth birthday.

Sarah Laskar, who manages the volunteers around the district, said:“The Harbour coffee morning has a wonderful welcoming atmosphere and when you visit you can clearly see the friendships and support that are on offer there.

"As part of the community volunteer scheme the project was always at risk due to the ongoing need for funding to cover staff costs but the loyal team of volunteers were keen to carry on. "

The morning has now become a feature of the week for residents in the community.

"The Memorial Hall is developing as a community hub for Southminster and we are delighted that the Memorial Hall Committee shares our appreciation of the value of the Harbour sessions and have agreed to take on its ongoing administration, embedding it into the community and ensuring the support continues.”

Allison Wood, pictured fourth left, is a regular visitor to the Harbour.

She said: “I really value the support that I have found through the good friendships I have made at Harbour, it is wonderful that it will continue.”

To find out more about Harbour visit the Southminster Memorial Hall in the High Street between 10am and noon any Thursday morning.