It has been another successful year from Marlborough’s Christmas Day lunch for old age pensioners.

Dozens of volunteers, including families with young children, put smiles on the faces of 55 OAPs when they sat down to enjoy a traditional three course meal subsidised by generous local sponsors.

The annual event started many years ago at the Jubilee Centre but has been held in the town hall for the last 10 years by former Gazette reporter Nigel Kerton and his wife Joy, a professional chef.

Mr Kerton said: “When you sit down to start peeling sprouts and you’re still at it 45 minutes later you realise what a huge task it is but we love doing it and we couldn’t do it without the help of the volunteers and generous donations from local business.”

Waitrose donated food vouchers through the Community Matters scheme to help pay for the dinner and every pensioner took home a £5 voucher.

David and Angela Daw of Event Exhibition and Design Ltd in London Road gave a generous cash donation and Tesco donated potted plants as the centre pieces.

The turkeys were donated by the Conservative Club and Sumbler Bros butchers donated bacon and sausages as well as cold meats for sandwiches which the guests took home with them.

The Town Council allowed the Town Hall to be used free of charge and Mayor of Marlborough, Edwina Fogg, and her husband and town councillor Nick Fogg popped in to say hello to the pensioners and thank all the volunteers.

Mr Kerton added: “The town hall was transformed into the Ritz for the day.

“I’d like to see other communities in Wiltshire organise events like this because they’re are lonely elderly people in towns and villages in Wiltshire, they’re not in need of money, they’re just in need of company.”

Sadly, one of the coordinators Ann Harely, who owns a taxi company, announced that it would be her last year helping with the Christmas Day dinner.

Mr Kerton said: “We’d like to thank her for all of her help over the last few years and the Christmas dinner will be going ahead again next year.”