A Blackburn pub is reserving a table for anyone having to spend Christmas alone this year.

The Willows pub on Haslingden Road, is offering six lonely people a three course meal complete with drinks and transportation, and it’s all free of charge.

Staff are asking the public to put forward the names of some people who will be alone this Christmas and would appreciate the offer.

In a Facebook post they wrote: “Did you know that 1 in 5 adults will be alone this Christmas?

“After being alone for a lot of the year this is a horrid statistic and we would love to help in our own small way.

“At the Willows we would like to offer a table for anyone alone.

“We have reserved a table of six in the pub and will provide a three course Christmas dinner plus drinks, we can even arrange transportation.

“What we need is our guests to let us know if they can think of anyone who will benefit, we are looking for 6 people we can bring together who would otherwise be alone.

“If you know of anyone please let us know.”

Daniel Rushton, general manager the pub, said it’s a scheme that all pubs should be doing and something that he runs almost every year.

He explained: “I’ll always give a table up in the pub for anyone alone at Christmas.

“In the past we have invited families who have had a hard year – but this year the scheme is slightly different.

“We are inviting over six individuals that will just be on their own and we will bring them together in the pub on Christmas day.”

“They will get a three course meal and the drinks included and then we will take them home.”

According to Mr Rushton, the scheme is especially important after the pandemic.

He said: “Everyone’s had a bad year and a half. After spending the last few years locked up it would be tragic to spend another Christmas alone.”

The heart-warming scheme is aimed at anyone who will be on their own this year.

Daniel explained: “Traditionally you would think of an older person but we’re inviting people of all ages who will be alone and have no place to be.”

If you know someone who would appreciate the scheme, Daniel says you can send their contact details to the pub via their Facebook page.