The homeless in Edinburgh, Scotland are being treated to a slap up dinner with a difference on Christmas Day.

Instead of turkey and all the trimmings, 170 people from the city's mission are sitting down to festive fish 'n' chips dished out by volunteers.

Ann Dennis, proprietor of the restaurant Harry Ramsden's, said she decided to open up on Christmas day after talking it over with her husband.

"Because we have no children left at home, we sat there thinking about Christmas and how nice it would be to fill our lives with people," she said.

Mrs Dennis' staff have volunteered to come in and help too, along with students from a local college. Edinburgh social services are providing transport for the diners.

Although the menu does not feature traditional turkey or Christmas pudding, the guests can sing as many carols as they want, but only after the Rev David Wilson from Wester Hailes Baptist Church has said grace. Musical accompaniment is being provided by the Salvation Army.

George Watson from Edinburgh's City Mission said: "There are currently around 200 people sleeping rough in Edinburgh, the figure for homelessness in Scotland runs to over 67,000."

This Christmas is likely to be a "very special occasion for the City's homeless as a lot of people who come to our drop-in centre have never been to a restaurant before," he said.

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