RAYLEIGH, U.K. -- A recovering local economy? Local schools excelling? People flocking to the area? Must be time for another social network!

Rayleigh Connect has just launched. The online community network based around Rayleigh but serving the surrounding areas in southeast Essex, aims to become the number one location for user, community and local business interaction.

Another social network? Really? Apparently so, and inspired by a single community page on facebook. Are people really going to get excited again about posts regarding lost cats or the man with the leaky roof looking for a tradesman to fix it? As the site's creator explains, he thinks they will. "Let's make that a local lost cat and a neighbour with the hole in their roof. Suddenly people are keen to help despite not actually knowing anything about them. That is what online social interaction has taught me. If it's local, it's relevant because it could be them.".

So, a smaller, more localised social network, encouraging the promotion of local business (our Business Connect (http://rayleighconnect.co.uk/groups) pages will make a one stop shop for users to interact with multiple local businesses and subject savvy local users), a local online marketplace, local events and things to do while retaining the functionality that makes these networks popular. Like an old school forum to discuss and debate local issues that actually affect local users.