IN these dark January days it is easy to forget all that Christmas sparkle.

However, the yuletide joy came flooding back for Hedge End's senior citizens.

Thanks to a lottery windfall, 52 members of The Hedge End Retirement Club were able to sit down to a slap-up Christmas dinner at the Hedge End 2000 Centre.

A three-course meal was followed by mince pies and there were also Christmas crackers to get everyone in the party mood.

Club chairman Gerry Harding said: "Everyone enjoyed it and we played tapes of wartime songs."

The Christmas feast was thanks to a lottery grant of £500, which was a case of third time lucky for the club.

Mr Harding said: "It was the third time of asking for a lottery grant and we were able to use it on a belated Christmas lunch."

After tucking into all that lovely grub it was eyes down for a game of bingo.