Christmas could come early for a group of volunteer companions after being nominated for an award.

For the last 25 years, the Pinner Association of Churches has provided a free lunch on Christmas Day to elderly people in the community, who otherwise would have been completely on their own for the day.

Guests, who else receive a personal invitation from the group, are picked up from their homes in private cars and driven to St John’s Church hall in Pinner High Street.

A full turkey lunch with wine is cooked and served by the volunteers, followed by entertainment and a showing of the Queen's Speech on television.

The guests are then dropped home and drivers drop off a Christmas dinner in tinfoil that afternoon for those who cannot attend.

Heidi Raj, committee member, said: “We have a committee and meet during the year to start organising it.

“We all have our different roles – someone does the shopping, someone stores it. It is certainly a big operation.

“The first year I was involved I was so impressed by how well it was run and how well organised everyone is.”

Along with the volunteers who put the plans together, they also have the use of a professional chef who cooks on the day, and a number of Pinner businesses donate food, drinks or ingredients.

Schoolchildren are also involved in the preparations, designing cards that are sent out to the guests.

The team of more than 30 volunteers have now been put forward for the Volunteer Team award at this year’s Harrow’s Heroes competition.

The groups’ anonymous nomination read: “This stalwart group of volunteers are an example to all - young and old - as they give up their time before and on Christmas Day of others.

“They put themselves and their families on hold while they look after the most needy in our community on that special day.

“Jacqui and Michael Wakelam's committee and team of volunteers epitomise what is best in our Harrow community.”

The competition will see all nominees praised for their hard work at an award’s ceremony this October.

Mrs Raj, who has been volunteering for around four years, said: “I think it’s an absolutely amazing thing – we get people sending in thank you cards and occassionalyl a cheque from the guests because they have enjoyed it that much and want to show their appreciation.

“It is a very worthwhile thing and I am very pleased it’s able to carry on.

“It would be amazing to win but we are all just so pleased to be able to do it every year, we’re not looking for any recognition, and there’s so many other people out there who work hard and volunteer all through the year.

“We just all enjoy doing it.”

Anyone who wants to give their volunteers recognition on social media can tweet about their accomplishments using the hashtag #shoutoutHarrow.

For further information on Harrow to nominate and for terms and conditions, please visit www.harrow.gov.uk/harrowheroes