Appeal for chef to save church Christmas Day lunch

Tonbridge Baptist Church has served a Christmas Day lunch for the last 20 years

A church in Kent has put out an appeal for a volunteer chef to cook its Christmas Day lunch for those who would otherwise be on their own.

Tonbridge Baptist Church has provided a subsidised meal for anyone who would be alone on 25 December for the last 20 years.

In previous years the venue has catered for as many as 92 people.

Margaret Bull, who has organised the festive meal many times before, said "we will not have Christmas Day if we don't have a cook".

She told BBC Radio Kent: "It is such a big thing to cook on a Christmas Day.

"Someone has got to volunteer. We would never ask anyone to do it."

Anyone who is on their own is invited by the church to book in advance for the subsidised lunch, at a cost of £15 for a three-course meal with a gift.

Ms Bull said: "It's just a lovely day. Everybody is happy. All the helpers get fed as well.

The church said volunteers should have relevant catering certification and have their own means of transport on Christmas Day.