Cafe to open for lonely people on Christmas Day
BBCA cafe will be offering free hot drinks and mince pies on Christmas Day for people who find themselves on their own.
Andrew Byne, owner of the Rocking Horse in Alnwick, Northumberland, said it would be the fifth year of them being open on 25 December and it was "nearly always full".
He said he had always wanted it to be a place for people who were in need of a chat and companionship.
"It's just me and two dogs, it makes no difference to me," Mr Byne said.
Mr Byne got the idea to open the cafe one Christmas after a supermarket cashier told him the woman in front of him in the queue had said the shop worker was the only person she got to talk to all week.
"This will be the fifth year we have opened on this special day and the main part of the cafe is nearly always full for much of it," Mr Byne said.
The Rocking Horse will be asking those who attend to make a small donation towards local dog rescue SHAK.
"It's to have a place that people can come if they're lonely or, you know, lost partners through the year," Mr Byne said
"We don't want to do it for money, it's just about being a place where people can come and chat.
"I thought it could be a place for the community."
