A lonely pensioner has placed a poster in his window asking for friends, after the death of his wife has left him feeling isolated.
Seventy-five-year-old Tony Williams says days can pass without him speaking to anyone following the death of his wife Jo, who passed away in May aged 75.
The retired physicist, who has no children, said he often sits at home willing the phone to ring, 'but it never does'.
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Without family for company, Tony decided to put an advert in the local paper looking for some pals, but heartbreakingly, had no replies.
Undeterred, Tony then went and had some business cards printed so he can hand them out while he's in the supermarket or out for a walk - but despite handing out dozens, he is yet to have a call back.
He's now placed a poster in his window in the hopes of catching the eye of someone who might like to be his friend.
Tony said: "It's my last resort. I've tried everything to make friends, but it feels like nobody wants to talk to me.
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"Not very many people pass my house, but I was hoping it would spread around the community, and someone might reach out.
"Jo was my best friend and we had a lovely life. But now I'm all by myself. My wonderful wife has just died, and I have nobody.
"All I want is for somebody to see the sign and phone me up. I just want a nice conversation so I'm not sat in silence all day long.
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"I'm not looking for someone to listen to me cry - I just want a normal person who I can chat to! I can talk to anybody about anything.
"I spend most days just sat in the house in silence, just waiting for the phone to ring... but it never does."
Tony, who met his wife more than 35 years ago, said the couple had enjoyed 'perfect harmony'.
He said: "Our relationship was always so natural. We had no secrets and we could be totally open with each other - we really were soul mates.
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"Back in Kempley, we both used to get in every evening from work and cook together - with me doing one job and her another - then we'd put it together at the end.
"Sometimes we'd spend hours cooking, laughing and listening to music together - it was the highlight of our day."
The couple moved near to Alton in East Hampshire last year so Jo could be nearer to her sister Beryl, but sadly, Jo was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year and died just nine days later.
Tony added: "Now I'm here, completely alone, in the house where my lovely wife spent her dying days.
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"Every time I walk in the room, the first thing I do is look at her photograph."
Neighbours have offered to help, but Tony says he wants a friend his own age to help pass the time.
After getting nowhere with his newspaper adverts and business cards he put a sign up that reads: "I have lost Jo, my lovely wife and soul mate.
"I have no friends and nobody to talk to.
"I find the unremitting silence 24 hours a day unbearable torture. Can nobody help me?'
He added: "I just want a friend, and I hope my sign will find someone for me."
Featured Image Credit: SWNS