That is why one centre for homeless and vulnerable people is determined no-one will be left out in the cold this year by opening its doors on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

The Daylight Centre in High Street, Wellingborough, will be providing turkey dinners to people over the two days. It ran the service for the first time last year and proved so popular it will be repeated.

Chief executive Patrick Vercoe said: "It was so appreciated by the people who come here.

"Christmas can be a very lonely time on your own. This is about everybody having a good time instead of sitting at home staring at four walls.

"The thing we are trying to get over this year is it is not just for the normal service users of the centre. It is for anyone who is alone on the day.

The centre already has plenty of volunteers to help out on Christmas Day but is looking for Boxing Day helpers. Dinners will cost just £1 and transport to the centre is available by arrangement.

The Daylight Centre is a vital hub for some of Wellingborough's most vulnerable people, catering for the homeless as well as vulnerable people with mental health issues, learning disabilities or substance abuse problems.

Malcolm Drage, 70, of Henshaw Road, Wellingborough, has been using the centre for 13 years.

He said: "It has been very helpful to me in lots of respects. They are very good people who run the centre.

"I was homeless up to about seven years ago but now I have got a flat which the people here helped with."

Steve O'Connor, 56, another regular, said: "I am an alcoholic and through coming here it keeps me off the beer and off the park bench with a bottle of cider. It's also a real community. I know about 90 per cent of the people here.

"It is very important that they are opening at Christmas. It's surprising how many people are on the streets at Christmas."