GOOD King Wenceslas famously gave alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of St Stephen, the day after Christmas - and Farnham Lions are keen to ensure no-one goes without during the festive season.

Haslemere Mayor Sahran Abeysundara officially launched the 2016 Lions’ Wenceslas Project, attended by club president Barbara Wright, to benefit those in need in and around Farnham and Haslemere.

It is the fifth consecutive year Farnham Lions have invited pensioners who feel they do not need their winter fuel allowances to donate them to the club, which will use the donations to help families and individuals who are seriously struggling to cook and keep warm this winter.

Last year, the Lions received generous donations from the residents of both towns amounting to more than £17,600, which enabled Waverley Citiizens’ Advice Bureau to clear the fuel debts of their clients, and make numerous grants to families identified by Sure Start Centres and link workers.

Project chairman Tony Burke said: “Thanks to CAB, the Sure Start Centres in Farnham, Hale, Haslemere at Tennysons Centre, and Elstead, and home-school link workers in the area, we enabled well over 200 people or families to stay warm through last winter,”

“All payments were made directly to a fuel utility company on behalf of the families and individuals concerned thus ensuring that every penny received was used for the purpose for which it was donated.

“The whole exercise was greatly assisted by generous sponsorship from the Herald Group newspapers and Riverprint, our printers.

“This year, the Lions hope to do at least as well.”