An organisation which helps the homeless is providing a free Christmas meal for those without shelter this year.

Islington House, in Bolton Road, Blackburn, which is run by the Ashley Foundation, will be providing a free Christmas dinner to anyone who is sleeping rough and has nowhere to go on Christmas Day.

Manager of Islington House, Lisa Brown, said the thoughtful gesture was the idea of her 21-year-old daughter, Eleanor Bell.

Ms Brown said: “My daughter asked me a few weeks ago if I could find her and her friends somewhere to volunteer on Christmas Day for a couple of hours.

“When I struggled to find anywhere, I put it to my bosses and asked them if we could host a Christmas lunch for people.

“They were supportive of the idea, and we’ve managed to find a few more volunteers to help out too, including some from Change Grow Live in Chorley.

“We’ll be putting on the lunch between 1.30pm and 3pm and we are now looking for any businesses or individuals who would like to donate some food, some veg, or some money to help us fund the meals.”

The offer of a free Christmas dinner is open to anyone who is street homeless and doesn’t have anywhere to go.

Ms Brown said if anyone already has a place at a hostel they will need to have their Christmas dinner there in order to free up meals for those who are in genuine need.

If you are a business, organisation or individual and would like to help Islington House this Christmas, you can contact Lisa Brown on lisa.L.Brown@tafblackburn.org or call Islington House direct on 01254 670700.