THE hottest day of the year, with temperatures well into the 80s, was chosen by Burnley Rotarians and staff at the Oaks Hotel, Reedley, for a charity Christmas party!

They tucked into a full traditional Christmas dinner of turkey and stuffing with all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pudding and sherry.

They wore paper hats, pulled crackers and cooled down with iced drinks as the party went with a swing.

It was hot work for duty manager, Graeme Farrington, as Father Christmas with red robe and white whiskers.

Publicity officer Richard Haddock said they thought it was a novel way of raising money for charity although some thought it "crackers'' to have the event on the hottest night of the year.

About £300 was raised for Burnley Rotary charities from the joint event organised by the Oaks general manager , Anthony Whiteley, along with Rotary officers.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.