A Swannington couple will once again be holding a free Christmas dinner for people who are on their own over the festive period.

Former hoteliers Mike Brown, and his wife Hilary, began the gesture five years ago but were forced to cancel it last year due to the Covid pandemic.

Now the couple are bringing the dinner back and looking forward to being reunited with some familiar faces at the Village Hall on December 25.

Mike explained the story behind the get-together.

He told Coalville Nub News: "My wife and I moved into the village about five years ago and, that Christmas Day, we looked into booking a meal and the restaurant were charging £80 each.

"So we thought we'd do our own and that's how it started.

"We thought, 'We're on our own' and it was a question of whether we'd spend £160 on a Christmas dinner or do our own thing. And we put that money to it instead.

"Then we got some family members on board to help organise it and we have 10 helpers with us now.

"It grew from there and we're catering for around 40 this year.

"Everyone that came two years ago are returning this time."

Mike says that the dinner is not made up of just elderly people who may be alone at Christmas.

He said: "Our youngest one in our first year was 18.

"It's any age group - and it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor.

"This isn't about people who haven't got any money. It's about being on your own on Christmas Day.

"In the first year, we had a doctor joining us with his wife, he was looking after his sick father in hospital.

"It's for couples as well, maybe they've spent all year looking at each other, and they might make new friends, you never know.

"It's a time of year, particularly with Covid, when you feel it most if you're on your own.

"There might have been people who've been looking at four walls for two years."

Mike says the event is now gaining support from the community.

He added: "We came home one night and there was £100 through the letterbox and that goes towards the dinner.

"It was from an anonymous donor but now we get quite a few people supporting us, including local supermarkets.

"Next are very generous with us and make donations."

Mike says the day is well organised and planned well in advance.

He added: "We pick people up around at around 11am and aim for a 12noon starter.

"There are games of bingo and a quiz as well.

"We finished up last time at around 5pm. It finishes when it finishes. Then we have our dinner.

"We have my wife, sister in law Molly and her husband Alan, Sarah and Nathan, Steve and Natalie and Lesley and Alan, who are friends from years ago."

Mike said his background running a hotel in Mountsorrel serves him well in setting up the dinner arrangements.

He added: "It was a small hotel, with 14 rooms and a restaurant, so we have catering backgrounds and it rolls on from there.

"I'd say it makes it a doddle, but it's not. And I hope we can continue doing it.

"We had a few disparaging comments at first, as if there was something in it for us.

"But now we've spread our net to Swannington and the surrounding villages, Ravenstone, Whitwick, Measham, plus Coalville.

"And the furthest person to come to us lived in Coventry!

"Anyone who's been before is welcome to come again.

"The way we do it is, that 30 can come and be collected, then there's space for another 10 who can make their own way here.

"But maybe we can make it a bigger event in future years."