A state secondary is opening its doors to make sure hard-up kids do not miss out on Christmas dinner.
Around 60 youngsters and a similar number of parents and pensioners will get turkey and all the trimmings at Park Community School.
The school serves a deprived area on the outskirts of Portsmouth called Leigh Park, which was once the largest council estate in Europe, and has “significant levels of need.”
The lunch is funded by donations from well-wishers and entirely staffed by volunteers, including teachers.
Local businesses have paid for presents for youngsters as well as entertainments, such a visit by Santa and a bouncy castle.
Head Christopher Anders said: “Christmas brings pressures for families on low incomes. On Christmas Day at least we will know they are well fed.
“Without it some in our community could miss out.
“For some it is the only proper traditional dinner they will be getting. The focus is on doing the best for our children and trying to do all we can for the community.
“For a number of our children the food they eat at school is really important to them, they may not eat something healthy at other points of the day.”
The school puts a big emphasis on food and its award-winning initiative to ensure no child goes hungry during the holidays has been heralded a “lifeline” by parents.
The Munch project aims to tackle food poverty and provides nutritious meals for needy children and their parents during holidays.