Theresa May praises volunteers at Christmas Day lunch

Theresa May praised the volunteering spirit of this Olympic and Diamond Jubilee year as an army of willing helpers turned out for a special Christmas Day dinner.

The Maidenhead MP led a round of applause for more than 70 drivers, greeters and cooks who helped make a fun-filled lunch for 90 elderly or homeless people who would otherwise be spending the big day alone.

Guests at the lunch at SportsAble in Braywick Road were treated to a three-course meal including soup, a turkey dinner and home-made Christmas pudding before joining in with a singalong of classic songs and carols led by baritone Charles Luxford and mezzo-soprano Margaret Probyn.

The Queen's Speech then took centre stage as it was projected onto a big screen.

The event, organised by Churches Together in Maidenhead, has been running in various guises for more than 30 years and saw food and help offered from a wide range of charities and organisations, including People to Places, Copas Turkeys and the Advertiser's Cracker Appeal.

Churches Together in Maidenhead president Keith Harrison said: "For me, this is what I consider to be the true spirit of Christmas.

"It is about peace and goodwill for all people."