I have been such a busy girl lately, trying to attend all the community events I possibly can and meet people face to face.

I'm so glad I made the effort to go to the St. Mary's Church coffee morning today, which they have evey Tuesday from 10am until about 11.30am.

I can't be a good community reporter without getting up close and personal and actually finding out a little bit about the place and the people who live there.

The Mellor community website is a bit quiet so I was really quite surprised to learn that there are loads of things going on, in what is a very self-sufficient village.

I got talking to a couple of the ladies who were present at the coffee morning, Joan Sharples and Irene Holt.

I have to say I had a lovely time with them, so often I hear young people complaining about the old folk, and vice versa, but I think they're just two very misunderstood groups within our society as a whole.

So I got talking to Joan and Irene, who have lived in Mellor 45 and 66 years respectively. I can't imagine staying in one place for so long but I can see why they have done.

"I married a poot" said Joan, apparently referring to a person who was actually born in Mellor, "so that's why I'm here."

"I remember St. Mary's Gardens being built, all them years ago.

"It used to be mostly families that lived in Mellor, but a lot have moved into the area, in big houses.

"Some of them come to church and have blended well but there's a few who don't really get involved in village life."

I asked the ladies if they felt there was enough to do in the area.

"There's plenty to do if you get involved", came the reply, and Irene was right.

They have badminton on in the village hall twice a week, one session for ladies.

There's a youth fellowship group which meets monthly and they do activities or go on outings to places such as the Bowlplex or ice-skating.

They have a senior citizens group which usually has a guest speaker attend to talk to the group, they've even had Margo Grimshaw, one of Lancashire Telegraph's columnists.

As I sat in the Narthex with the 15 or so folk who were sipping coffee and munching on ginger nuts (best for dunking apparently), I realised that the community spirit in Mellor is thriving.

I suppose a lot of that has to do with the older generation who make up the majority of the poulation.

They have retained the neighbourly attitude that so many parts of our society is lacking, they remember harder times but they appreciate and cherish the company and respect of their peers.

I asked about the facilities and shops available to them, as they seem to have one of East Lancashire's last remaining Post Offices.

Joan said "We were scared we would lose our Post Office, but thank goodness it has been saved.

"We've got a chemist now as well which has been a big help, our community has grown enough to warrant one."

The general concensus is that Mellor is a great place to live and according to one lady "it's much nicer here, especially when you've lived down south for 50 years, everyone is so much friendlier."

I don't think I need to say anyomore!