THE NEEDY and vulnerable at St Austell Community Kitchen (STAK) celebrated Christmas Eve as local MP Stephen Gilbert served mince pies and a special guest prepared a dinner to remember.

Sanjay Kumar served up a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, a spicy parsnip soup and fish course to start and Christmas pudding for dessert.

Mr Kumar, who previously trained young chefs at Raymond Blanc's Petit Blanc restaurant in Oxford, regularly gives talks highlighting the benefits of healthy eating and Cornish food.

As well as creating Starrygazy Yorkshire puddings, made with whitebait, for STAK he also prepared a smoked fish mousse as an unusual starter.

STAK was also open on Christmas Day once again, serving roast beef and pork, with cold cuts dished up for clients on Boxing Day and Bank Holiday Tuesday.

STAK secretary Adam Harris thanked "all our wonderful volunteers who gave up so much time to help make Christmas a little bit special for those who don't have families they can spend Christmas with".