Christmas Day lunch will be provided for homeless people in Locke Park cafe.

Staff at Locke Park Cafe, the Friends of Locke Park and charity Help for Homeless Veterans are working together to lay on the three-course meal.

Thomas Wood set up Help 4 Homeless Veterans to help ex-servicemen who have found themselves on the streets but says the meals will be or all who are homeless.

Thomas, 52, of Grange Road, Royston, said he was awaiting figures from homeless organisations to see how many people may turn up.

He is also hoping to collect items such as hats, gloves and scarves to give away as gifts.

"We got our heads together and decided that's what we wanted to do this year.

"The Christmas lunch initiative is our way of engaging with the local community to offer assistance to help feed poor and vulnerable members of the community, on what is a special day."

He is looking at ways of making sure it is only the homeless who receive the meal, which may include a ticket system as the cafe sits 40 people.

Thomas, who served in the Infantry for 12 years, founded the organisation 18 months ago and it was registered as a charity in June.

He added: "Nobody has a clue how many homeless veterans there are. It is estimated that 12 to 25 per cent of all homeless people have served their country at one stage or another.

"With the cut backs there are going to be more problems and there will be more people in need of help."

The charity is currently working with Barnsley Council and Berneslai Homes to assist veterans into accommodation.