Now, Southlakes Carers has revealed it may be forced to cancel its Christmas Day lunch, ending a six-year tradition in the town.

The lunch attracts around 100 guests on Christmas Day, many of them elderly local people who would otherwise spend the day alone.

“The lunch is for those who may be isolated or alone over Christmas, and are predominately over 65s,” Southlakes Carers manager Vivienne Bruce said.

“We have anywhere from 85 to 105 guests for lunch which is usually spit roast meats, veggies, salads and bread rolls.”

Dinner cutlery is provided, along with fruit platters and puddings, provided by local Lions clubs, for dessert.

Local businesses support the day through sponsorship that helps to subsidise the cost of staging such a large event.

Ms Bruce said the local couple who had professionally catered the event so well for the past five years, had retired.

Now she fears there isn’t enough time to secure sponsors and new caterers to stage this year’s lunch.

To further complicate matters, the two Southlakes Carers staff who usually oversee the event will be overseas for Christmas this year, so an event coordinator would also have to be found, she said.

Ms Bruce said there would be a lot of disappointed people if the Christmas Day lunch were cancelled.

“Over the years, we have had return guests who book in early so as to not miss out. Many would be spending a very lonely Christmas otherwise,” she said.