CHRISTMAS is a time of giving back to the community and gas emergency and pipeline service Wales and West Utilities are doing just that with a generous donation to the Calne mayor's Christmas lunch.

Engineers from the gas emergency service decided to support Councillor Tom Rounds' Christmas lunch event to say thank you to the people of Calne for being so understanding during the gas leak on the A3102 in October which affected hundreds of homes in the area.

Darren Keighley, Wales & West Utilities operational manager for the area, said: "We were extremely grateful to the Town Council and the local community for the hospitality and understanding shown during our time in Calne while we worked to repair a damaged gas pipe. We wanted to say thank you and were delighted when he told us the money would go towards the Christmas Day lunch.

"It is a wonderful idea and we hope that it’s a great success. We would like to, once again, thank the people of Calne and the surrounding area for their patience whilst we carried out the emergency repair work."

The Christmas event, which is to be held at Calne Town Hall on Christmas Day, is the first in the area and will bring together more than 20 people from the community, including those from low income families, single and elderly residents and a number of homeless people.

Coun Rounds added: “It is hoped that by hosting a Christmas Day lunch we are able to bring together people from across the local community to share in some Christmas spirit. I am thankful to Wales & West Utilities for the donation and know that it has been welcomed by the people of Calne."