London Mayor Ken Livingstone has announced a new project to provide London's older citizens with access to a computer. 

The Computers For Older People scheme will be run by non-profit computer recycling company Maxitech and Age Concern London.

Livingstone will be writing to London businesses to encourage them to donate machines which they no longer need. 

Maxitech will remove all the data from the computers and refurbish them before sending them to Age Concern centres in London.

"Access to a computer, and in particular the internet, is an increasingly valuable part of every day life. Without it many people will find themselves deprived of many opportunities that others take for granted," said Livingstone.

"This is an important project which I strongly support, and a fantastic way to enhance the lives of many of London's older citizens."

Some machines will be given to housebound people, while others will be situated at Age Concern's drop-in centres.

Samantha Mauger, chief executive at Age Concern London, welcomed the scheme. "These computers will give older people the opportunity to communicate with friends and relatives, develop new interests, and have access to health and advice," she said.

"Helping them to improve their computer skills and giving them access to the internet will give older people, who might otherwise be isolated, the ability to do everyday tasks easily from their own homes."