If preparing a Christmas dinner for the family is stressful enough imagine rustling up enough turkeys and sprouts to feed 150 hungry mouths.

The People's People - a group of youth and community workers - is hoping it can sprinkle a little bit of seasonal spirit by cooking a community Christmas Day dinner. A mountain of turkeys, stuffing, Christmas puddings and, of course, Brussels sprouts will be dished up at The Glow Hall, at Blackbird Leys Community Centre, on Christmas Day.

Tickets started going on sale yesterday, costing just £2 for a family, for around 150 people to share Christmas dinner.

Lex Francis, treasurer for The People's People, said: "Christmas has lost its value, it's not like it was when you were a kid.

"We want to reach out to people and give real meaning to community spirit. We want to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone to remember."

The meal is open to anyone living in Oxford, but the group is hoping to provide a fun day for elderly people, the homeless, people who would normally spend the day alone, families on low incomes who cannot afford an expensive Christmas, or those affected by the Farepak collapse.

There will be a full Christmas dinner between noon and 6pm with an evening buffet, a live band and DJ and fun games for children.

No alcohol will be allowed inside The Glow Hall but soft drinks will be provided.

Everyone will also be able to take home a Christmas present donated by The Red Cross and there are free prize draws for three hampers of food, drink and non-perishables.

Apart from the £2 family tickets, there are also £1 tickets for adults and 50p a child.

The dinner is supported by Blackbird Leys Credit Union, Holy Family Church, Leys News, Learning Communities, BBC Radio Oxford, Delteys Supermarket and Tesco.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council, Oxford Citizens Housing Association and Oxford City Council have helped fund the event, donating £1,300.

Tickets are available by calling 07789 656044 or 07907 105127 and from the Leys Linx Centre on Blackbird Leys Road. Other ticket outlets will be announced soon.

Estimated amount of food required by the People's People to make 150 Christmas dinners: Six large turkeys Three capons Three gammon joints Three beef joints 200 Yorkshire puddings 20Ib Brussels sprouts 150 individual Christmas puddings 100Ib potatoes 30Ib of vegetables Two large Christmas cakes