OXFORD Food Bank held its biggest charity Christmas dinner yet as hundreds gathered to enjoy the festive gathering.

There was lashings of tasty food and Christmas cheer at the third annual charity event held at Oxford's Kings Centre, Osney Mead, on Christmas Day.

More than 500 people packed out the hall to share the community spirit including some 200 Syrian refugees, homeless people and 150 volunteers.

Organiser at Oxford Food Bank Sara Strong said that this year's charity event had been the biggest in its history.

She said: "I think it has been lovely, it has gone really well. It is fairly awe-inspiring to see hundreds of refugees mixing with hundreds of people from Oxford.

"And everybody is happy and people are having a fantastic time. The food is delicious too."

She said that the concept was first born after buying food for Christmas dinner and finding that there was so much excess it should be shared with those more in need.

She added: "It is a complete community here. We have a Syrian family from Banbury, some from Witney and further afield.

"People have been really generous , and we have had volunteers picking people up from Aspire and Oxfordshire County Council as well as drivers volunteering.

"Its hard work but it has been a lot of fun."