Generous staff and volunteers at a Saltcoats café served up a festive four-course meal for people who would otherwise spend Christmas Day alone.

A total of 35 people enjoyed food and company at The Cafe @ the Station in the town’s Vernon Street.

The kind gesture was the idea of the café’s owner, Susan Barbour, who hopes to make the Christmas dinner an annual event.

Susan said: “There were 35 people there and it was a brilliant day. We would like to thank everyone who volunteered, locals who offered to drive people to the café and home again, the local businesses who supported us and everyone who came along to make the day so special.

“We intend to make this an annual event as there was such a tremendous uptake.

“The generosity of the local community really blew us away, and we can’t thank everyone enough.

Lorna Veal was one of the volunteers and she described the event as “a truly inspirational and uplifting day of volunteering”.

She added: “She [Susan] was inundated with donations and support and I was one of numerous volunteers who turned up and turned the day of dread into magic for the full attendance of 45 guests.

“Everyone left with a full tummy, a smile on their faces and new friends.

“Santa arrived mid-afternoon and brought magic to the mood. Donations came in abundance from local businesses to support the success of today and the owner Susan and her efforts deserve to be put on the map locally for this genuine act of kindness and making the difference.”