GENEROUS readers filled hundreds of Christmas boxes in response to the annual appeal by our sister paper, the Surrey & Hants News, for donations to distribute to elderly people in Haslemere, Farnham, Bordon and Alton

Grateful members of the Orchard Club. based at Haslewey Community Centre, in Wey Hill, Haslemere, received their festive-looking boxes packed full of good things, after their Christmas lunch on Monday.

Haslemere Mayor Melanie Odell was one of the special guests for the three-course Christmas lunch for 90, which had was booked out weeks in advance.

“It was brilliant,” Orchard Club manager Hilary Owen said. “We had a full house and everyone had a great time.

“We couldn’t have done it without our volunteers. I’d like to thank them for their hard work and all the generous people who gave us Christmas boxes.

“They are always so well received. The Christmas lunch was booked out four weeks ago and we are going to have a festive lunch next Monday for those who couldn’t make it.

“We made three journeys in our wheelchair-access car to collect guests who needed transport.”