RESIDENTS in Wellington without a place to go were welcomed in for Christmas lunch by a church organisation.

Churches Together hosted a lunch on Christmas Day at the United Reform Church, in order to make sure that people that didn’t wish to be alone for the holidays had a place to go.

The lunch saw 22 guests arrive for a meal which was run by a group of volunteers. Chef Tom Barber, who once worked for a Jamie Oliver company, produced the meal with all the trimmings, assisted by David and Patricia Fletcher. Andrew Harvey, of Churches Together Wellington, said: “The lunch went very well and it was a very good atmosphere.

“We hosted the meal for people that would have otherwise been on their own. People came from 12.30pm and stayed till about three. I was the last one out of the door after the separate team of volunteers came to help clean up.”

“It is sad to think of people being on their own at Christmas if they want company, so that is why it is important for us to run the event.”

A range of people of all ages from differing backgrounds showed up to the lunch.

Mayor of Wellington, Bob Bowrah, also turned up on the day to wish all the guests and volunteers a merry Christmas.