Cafe donates Christmas meals to those in need

Kath's Cafe delivered 85 meals to the elderly and vulnerable on Christmas Eve last year

A cafe in Birmingham is offering free Christmas dinners for the vulnerable and elderly on Christmas Day.

Kath's Cafe and Irish store in Druids Heath will be donating a roast dinner for anyone struggling financially and unable to afford a meal.

Owner Kath Coogan said so far 30 meals have been requested this year, following an order of 85 dinners last year.

She told the BBC the Christmas spirit in the local community helped her carry out the appeal for three-and-a-half years.

Ms Coogan told BBC Radio WM: "It all started when one of our customers who looks after her 92-year-old mum came in and asked if it was possible that we prepare a meal for them to sit down and have on Christmas day.

"A couple of customers overheard and they asked too and it was born from then."

The meals are cooked a week before Christmas Day and frozen before they are delivered

The cafe start cooking the meals a week before and freezing them ahead of time.

Staff write down instructions on how to reheat and defrost each meal and they are delivered on Christmas Eve.

Ms Coogan said: "A lot of our customers saw on Facebook we were doing [the appeal] and offered to help deliver.

"So my band of merry men came in on Christmas Eve and off they went and made quite a lot of people happy.

"The community spirit around here is amazing, we help each other where we can."

Locals also donate gifts for recipients and vulnerable children in the area, which are delivered alongside the meals.

"The fact that people were coming in donating gifts and offering to take people out, the Christmas spirit here is fantastic.

"Hopefully we'll pull it off again this year.