A Moray hall was full to capacity yesterday as volunteers served up a Christmas dinner for members of community who would otherwise be spending the day on their own.
About 50 people sat down for lunch at Bishopmill Hall in Elgin while singers provided a festive soundtrack for the afternoon.
Organisers Elgin Elves were so overwhelmed with demand for the meal that they launched a “meals on wheels” service for the first time to ensure as many people as possible could share the cheer by taking food out to people in their homes.
Requests for places in the hall resulted in the annual meal, which is supported by Moray Foodbank, being fully booked several weeks in advance.
Meanwhile, about a dozen volunteers wearing fancy dress served up turkey prepared by staff from the hospitality department at Moray College UHI.
Transport was also arranged for those who would struggle to get to the venue on their own.
Diane Millican, who helped form the Elgin Elves group, said: “We’ve actually been turning away volunteers too, it’s amazing the amount of people who will give up their Christmas Day to help others.
“It’s the second year we’ve run it. There used to be one in Lhanbryde but it stopped when one of the organisers moved down south.
“Me and some friends started it up because if we hadn’t then there would have been nothing for some of these people, which is awful to think about.
“It’s a great atmosphere. It’s mainly pensioners that come in but there are also some people in their 40s and 50s too, there’s no age limit on being lonely at Christmas.”