A CHARITY is appealing for kind-hearted residents and businesses to share the cost of transporting elderly people to a Christmas Day lunch.

Tendring Community Transport will ferry residents who would otherwise spend yuletide alone to Clacton County High School on Thursday.

It will cost the organisation an estimated £800, which will have to be funded by organisers Clacton Rotary Club if donations do not come forward.

Ray Hansen, a trustee at Tendring Community Transport and a Clacton Rotarian, said: “We have a fairly big shortfall for Christmas Day.

“A couple of years ago we were able to provide transport free of charge but costs, like insurance maintenance, are escalating and fuel is still a lot more than it used to be.

“We are estimating this year’s bill to be about £800.”

Mr Hansen said masonic lodges in the town have come up with about £250 but it still leaves the charity short.

“We understand some councillors are clubbing together, but until we have the money we are in limbo,” he said.

“If we don’t get the money, the rotary club will pay but they have already come up with £1,500 or so for the meal.

“There is only so much money they can collect shaking their tins on street corners.”

Rotarians will cook and serve a Christmas meal to 150-plus of the most isolated residents in the Clacton area on Thursday.

The club has been running its Santa’s Grotto in the town square this month to raise money for the event.

The grotto will be open on Christmas Eve.

l Anyone who can help with the transport costs should call Tendring Community Transport on 01255 436962.