CHRISTMAS is a time to celebrate with family and friends – but for those who are homeless in Basingstoke, it can be one of the hardest times of the year.

But some welcome festive cheer was spread by staff at The Camrose Centre, a drop-in centre which helps the homeless and the vulnerable in the borough, with a Christmas dinner on December 20.

Users of the service were treated to a Christmas dinner, crackers, presents and festive tunes.

Catherine Goswell, centre manager for The Camrose Centre, told The Gazette: “We do this every year for people who have nowhere to go at Christmas, so they come to us.

“It is nice to come together – we want everyone to sit down as equals and just have Christmas dinner.”

The event, held in St Michael’s Church Cottage, Basingstoke, was organised and run by the volunteers at the centre with a helping hand from staff at Basing View-based telemarketing company Great Guns, who provided the food and gifts.

Basingstoke and Deane Mayor Councillor Dan Putty, who attended the event to help serve the dinners to the homeless, said: “It is really great that in our borough, we have special people that do this for the community and the team of people that look after homeless people.”