Police officers served up festive cheer to diners at a charity's annual Christmas meal.

Officers from Mansfield House station, in the city centre, waited on tables at Age Concern's Clarence House yesterday.

The officers were due to return to the Humberstone Gate centre today for a second sitting.

More than 200 people will have tucked into Christmas dinner over the two days.

Carol singers from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Narborough Road also visited to entertain diners. Police sergeant Andy Cooper said: "We come to Age Concern throughout the year to speak to people an offer crime prevention advice. Coming down to serve the Christmas dinners is an opportunity for us to come down and show there's another side to the police."

David Plumridge, 63, of Oadby, said: "It was an excellent dinner. We all appreciate the work of staff at Age Concern and it was lovely to see the police officers helping to serve us."

Members of Leicester Rotary Club also helped serve meals.

Mark Simpson, a member of the club, said: "We have done this for several years now and we are always delighted to help."

Clarence House manager Antony Foster said: "It's a comfort to people to see police officers around the city centre and having them here to serve dinners also helps people to get to know them better."

Meanwhile, beat bobbies on Leicester's St Matthew's estate teamed up with the tenants' association to hand out parcels of food and festive treats to elderly people.