'We should be thinking more about people'

A woman who will spend Christmas making free lunches for people in need says it is "the right thing to do".

Olivia Prowse, 58, from Loddiswell, Devon, has organised the event on 25 December, alongside husband Mat, to help people who would otherwise be alone or struggling on Christmas Day.

Mrs Prowse said 13 people had signed up to attend the event in the village near Kingsbridge, while four people had signed up for deliveries.

She said the community had rallied round to assist with the event, including food donations from local businesses, adding: "It feels like the right thing to do to make sure that everyone is looked after and is OK at Christmas. It's better than just sitting at home."

'Anybody struggling'

Mrs Prowse said she and her husband, co-founder of The Seahorse Restaurant in Dartmouth and Rockfish, organised similar events a few years back for those on their own and it was "a couple of the best Christmases I've had".

She said the 2025 event would be held at The Pavilion, a small and empty community space, which was previously used for the village pre-school and is now looked after by the committee for the Loddiswell and Village Hall Trust.

"It's really exciting. It's been redecorated and there's nothing much else in there apart from a bar at one end," she said.

Mrs Prowse said the event had a capacity for 30 and was for anybody who was "struggling in any way".

Guests are due to receive a traditional turkey dinner, along with soup and Christmas pudding.

She said they had received a number of donations, including turkey and sausage meat from local butchers Aune Valley Meat.

Tesco and Morrisons had donated various items including mine pies, mulled wine and stuffing, she added.

Mrs Prowse said her family and friends would be volunteering at the event.

"We've had a lot of people offer their help," she added.

"We're really grateful to people that have helped us with donations."

An Aune Valley Meat spokesperson said: "We are a local family run business who rely on the support from local people, so if we can give back and show our support, especially at this time of the year, it's the least we can do."

Simon Harding, Kingsbridge Tesco superstore store manager, said: "We're proud to support this local community Christmas initiative to help bring a little joy to the community and spread some festive warmth to those who need it the most."