Pensioner says he 'doesn't feel normal anymore' amid pandemic

A lone pensioner who spends three months of the year abroad says he is now a 'bundle of anxiety' thanks to the Covid-19 crisis.

78-year-old George Bell opened up to us as part of our You're not alone campaign to highlight loneliness awareness week 2021.

Downtown Cool FM hosted a focus group with charity AGE NI to hear about older people's experience during lockdown.

George said he loved to work and travel before the pandemic struck.

But he told us not having those coping mechanisms is detrimental to his mental health:

"The first lockdown was a bit of a novelty but this last one has had an impact on me definitely, I thought I was stronger but I actually feel quite vulnerable and nervous.

I'm sitting in my house and I hear the birds on my roof and it's almost like they've got hobnail boots on, every sound...every time I hear a drip I think I'm going to be flooded.

"I'm sitting here a bundle of anxiety which I never was before."