CHIPPENHAM Lions will be spreading Christmas cheer with the lonely next week thanks to a £500 grant from Waitrose.

Twenty-seven people in and around Chippenham, who have no family locally, will be receiving a Christmas lunch from the Lions to ensure they aren't alone on the big day.

The Lions work with care agencies, housing associations, social workers and Age UK to identify those in need and the charity's volunteers will also spend some time with them to chat and reminisce.

Jim Dutch, chairman of the Lions fundraising committee, said: "It's very illuminating to think that even in Chippenham there are people on their own at Christmas so I think it is very important that we do this year after year.

"The money that we got from Waitrose's Community Matters scheme will go a long way to helping us with the costs of purchasing all the food and cooking it and we couldn't be without them or our volunteers on the day."