A PENSIONER has described his surprise at how his story of loneliness has hit the international headlines.

Les Harrington’s has a retirement village in Witham to himself, and his plight was revealed by the Gazette earlier this month.

The 86-year-old has since made appearances on TV and radio and even appeared in the New York Times.

He said: “I’m amazed. I don’t understand the interest – it’s really gone crazy, “For 32 years as a van driver with the Express, I made a living through other people and their stories, so I thought I wanted to put a little bit back.

“It’s done a lot of good and apparently there’s been a lot of interest.”

Mr Harrington has been the sole resident at the 58-property Homebridge Village retirement complex in Windsor Close since it reopened after a £6million makeover more than a year ago.

He called for the over-55s-only restriction to be lifted, a requested being considered by Braintree Council.

Bridge Hospital (Witham) Ltd, the company that converted the buildings, was placed into administration early this year and Mr Harrington said the firm sent him a vase and a big bunch of flowers as a thank-you for his help attracting global interest in the luxury development.