A RECORD 85 pensioners tucked into the annual festive Christmas lunch at Freshwater Memorial Hall.

The lunch was supported by both Freshwater and Totland parish councils and there was entertainment from the Brighstone Barnacles and pianist, George King.

Organiser, Jan Cave, said: "We have put this dinner on for the local pensioners for the last four years and this was the biggest number of people we have ever had.

"It's a really enjoyable event to put on because, for some of them, this will be their only Christmas meal as they are on their own over the holiday.

"We had great support from the two parish councils and the community as a whole. Everyone wants to help us give the pensioners their own special day.

"And they really look forward to it as well, they were queuing up to come in when we opened the doors.

"The entertainment was excellent and we had a big raffle as well, so it was a great way to end the day."