A KIND-HEARTED mother and daughter will once again be cooking Christmas dinner in Okehampton for people who would otherwise be on their own on December 25.

Kirsty Reynolds and her mum Jackie are staging Eat, Drink and Be Together At Christmas at Fairplace Church Hall in Okehampton from 12 noon to 6pm on Christmas Day.

They are raising money for the event with a bingo evening on Friday, November 17 at Okehampton Conservative Club. Doors open at 7.30pm for a 8pm start.

Kirsty, who works in the Co-op in Okehampton, said she and a colleague first had the idea of the Christmas dinner three years ago.

‘We had spoken to a lot of our regular customers who said they were going to be on their own at Christmas,’ she said. ‘The British Red Cross were doing a campaign on combating loneliness and it was all tied in to that.

‘Mum said we’re going to do it this year and see how it all goes, and here we are three years later!’

‘We’ve been fundraising throughout the year,’ she said. ‘For the last two years we have asked the Lions and United Charities to help us out.

‘This year, though, we have done it all ourselves. We are asking people for a contribution of £10 from people, and if we have any money left over that will start us off for next year.’

Christmas dinner is served at 12.30pm, to be followed by a buffet tea in the afternoon.

For more information on the event, including how to get tickets, call Kirsty on 01837 54338, with carers and drivers eating free.