Staff worked for free and local people donated a variety of food and drink items to a Sidmouth cafe, as it provided a free meal to tackle loneliness on Christmas Day.

A Sidmouth café brought festive cheer to locals by serving a free Christmas Day dinner for people who had nowhere else to be.

Sarah Jane’s provided a three-course meal for around a dozen regular customers, friends and family on December 25 – free of charge.

Proprietor Sarah Mallett put a sign in the café window on the approach to Christmas advertising the event and was overwhelmed by the support it received.

Staff worked for free and people donated a variety of food and drink items towards the special meal, which was enjoyed by all who came.

Sarah said: “I couldn’t have wished for it to go any better.

“It was just friendly and relaxed. It was nice spending the day with the people I see every day.”

Sarah hopes the café will be able to hold a free Christmas meal again this year.