Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Adam Peaty was in Wimbledon on the weekend to celebrate the launch of a new social network.
On Saturday breaststroke star Peaty was at a picnic in South Park Gardens, Wimbledon, to celebrate the launch of a social media site called Nextdoor.
Nextdoor encourages people to interact online with those who live in their local area.
The social network is used to organise street parties, find babysitters, help find lost pets, and warn others of local crime.
Speaking at the picnic, Peaty said: “Increasingly you see communities growing apart. It’s not like the olden days where all the neighbours were close.
“Nowadays the world revolves around technology and this is a great way to get everyone involved.”
The Olympic swimmer also hopes the app can help build an Olympic legacy.
He said: “Post the Olympics it is important to encourage people to take up sport and hopefully we can use this as a catalyst to get people involved.
“Maybe in my area now people will post on the app something like: ‘Does someone want to go for a run with me?’”
The online community network was launched on September 14 with 30 picnics taking place around the country last weekend to mark the occasion.
Those at the Wimbledon event were fed and provided with free entertainment, including a sack race with Peaty for the children.
Mark Gettleson, 31, is a part of the Nextdoor team and helped map the UK’s Nextdoor online communities.
He said: “The team that mapped the country has involved local government representatives, councils and local historians.
“If an urban area used to be a village 500 years ago we use that to help bring that community’s identity back.
“We want communities that are quite small.”
There are already more than 250 neighbourhoods on Nextdoor across the UK.
Lesley Todd, 66, is signed up to the social network and believes Nextdoor is an interesting new idea.
She said: “It’s a shame you don’t have the community you use to have. The safety side is quite handy because you can see if there have been any break-ins in the local area so you know when to be more aware.”
Maddy Howaston, 32, agrees: “It’s always really good to bring the community together.
“I’ve already seen an impact. The members of my community are all meeting in the pub soon so that we can put face to name.”
The Nextdoor app can be downloaded for IOS or Android. Visit nextdoor.co.uk to find out more.