A SOCIAL group for elderly people in the outskirts of Burnley will be able to afford a Christmas meal for its members thanks to a county council grant.

County Councillor Margaret Brindle, for Burnley Rural, has approved a local member grant of £220 to Briercliffe Wednesday Club.

The group, which meets fortnightly, had warned that it might be unable to host the event without funding help.

It said: “We are bringing the elderly people of Briercliffe together for a special Christmas meal where they can provide a gift for each other.

“Without funding, we would only be able to have the normal fortnightly event.”

£100 will go towards food for the event, with £60 spent on gifts, £50 on tablecloths and £5 each on wrapping paper and cards.

The group is run by eight volunteers, including chair Janet Hartley and treasurer Alec Oldham, who submitted the successful grant bid.