HOMELESS people and those suffering with loneliness joined staff and volunteers from charity Breakthrough Trowbridge for their annual festive dinner last week.

Open to anyone living on the streets or in isolation from the community, the meal held at the Salvation Army hall in Castle Street saw around 70 plates of hot Christmas dinner served up on Monday.

Trowbridge Lions gave up their time to cook serve the food, and also raised the money to pay for it.

Barrie Dearlove, manager of Breakthrough Trowbridge, said: “The thing about this charity is we are just like one big family, and everyone knows each other and enjoys each other’s company.

“I have been told they see me as a father figure which is so nice and very rewarding.

“The Christmas meal was just like a big family event.”

Ivor and Lisa Parker, who met through the charity and married last year, joined the festivities.

Mr Parker said: “Although I was not homeless, this is a great place for us to come and socialise and helped me out a lot in the past.

“We have made a lot of friends here, as well as meeting each other of course.”

Breakthrough Trowbridge holds drop-in sessions several times a week for anyone to come and have something to eat and a cup of coffee.

They also refer people to any services which they may need help from, including housing, financial help and mental health services.

Breakthrough was formed in 2008 as a registered Christian charity supporting the homeless in the town, as well as military veterans. All are welcome at the day centre which opened in the Salvation Army Hall in November 2015.