London Mayor Ken Livingstone has launched an initiative that aims to open up the online world for London's pensioners.

The Mayor and not-for-profit computer recycling company Maxitech have joined forces with Age Concern London to create the new Computers for Older People project.

As part of the project, the Mayor will write to London businesses encouraging them to donate computers that they no longer need to Maxitech, which will wipe any data on their hard disks, refurbish them and then distribute them to Age Concern centres in the capital.

The initiative will see thousands of older people gaining access to computers and training through Age Concern London. The charity will ensure that the computers are given to housebound people, with some PCs kept for use in its drop-in centres.

"These computers will give the older people who receive them the opportunity to communicate with friends and relatives, develop new interests, and will enable them to have access to health and advice," said Age Concern London chief executive Samantha Mauge at the project launch.

"This will make such a difference to the lives of many older people who find it hard to get out due to illness, disability or mobility problems, and find everyday tasks such as shopping, banking and even socialising difficult," she added.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, said: "Access to a computer – and in particular the internet – is an increasingly valuable part of everyday life, and without it many people will find themselves deprived of many opportunities that others take for granted."