Friends Reunited social networking website to close down
Video report by ITV News Correspondent Paul Davies
Friends Reunited, one of the first social networking websites, is closing down.
The site, which once boasted more than 15 million members, was set up by Hertfordshire couple Steve and Julie Pankhurst in 2000.
It allowed people to reconnect with old friends and quickly became popular.
However, it has since fallen behind the likes of Facebook and its current owners, DC Thomson, have decided to close it.
What will happen to my Friends Reunited account?
All members should have received an email telling them about the closure of the site.
Closure of the service is set to begin over the next month.
Members of the site will receive an additional email to allow them to login and download photos they may have stored on the service.
Mr Pankhurst, who became involved with the site again two years ago after selling it in 2005, wrote in a blog post: "It hasn’t covered its costs and like any business this can’t continue indefinitely.
"Therefore, whilst it’s sad, I believe it’s time to move on and put Friends Reunited to bed. And I feel like I am the right person to do it."
Some social media users appeared surprised at the news, many because they thought the website had been shut down years ago.