A couple of best friends who met at a now closed support group have spoken of their delight following the launch of its successor.

In the mid 2000s the cousin of Steph Goodbody, 29, convinced her to go to Spanners, a group run by charity Action in Mental Health at St John's Church in Loughton.

Despite her apprehensions, the Loughton resident got talking with long-time attendee Kate Wilson, who had a broken arm at the time having tripped over her cat and fallen down the stairs.

Ms Goodbody said: "We clicked straight away.

"Even though she is 11 years older than me, she is young at heart and I am old.

"We used to get into mischief together. We used to roll about tickling one another.

"We had a really good time."

Having bonded at the club, Ms Wilson visited Ms Goodbody's home and through an old photo, realised she used to be her babysitter.

As they became closer friends, they found they could speak to one another about their mental difficulties and self-harming in a way they could not with family members or other friends.

Ms Goodbody added: "We both know we can talk to each other without the other one overreacting.

"With Kate I can ask 'have you felt this before' and most of the time she will say 'yes'.

"It is straightforward support.

"There have been times when Kate has been in hospital and I have gone to see her."

In 2015 Spanners closed down, sometime after Action in Mental Health stopped receiving Essex County Council and NHS funding.

Although they have continued to meet each week for a coffee, the pair missed the club and were therefore delighted when a replacement was set up earlier this year.

On June 1 The Right Honourable Eleanor Laing MP cut the ribbon of the Open Door Friendship Group, which is held at St Michael and All Angels Church in Loughton.

Ms Wilson said: "For a while there was nothing like it in the area.

"Anyone can come that has any kind of mental health issue.

"We just have a cup of tea, a biscuit and a chat.

"There's also table tennis, pool, crafts. There's something for everybody to do."

The group is looking for more members.

It is open from 3.30pm to 5.30pm on Fridays and a barbecue is being held on September 7.

Contact Paula via opendoorfriendship@gmail.com to find out more.