However, a group of pupils from a Glasgow school have plenty of Christmas spirit to share with the city’s elderly community.

Pupils from Rosshall Academy in Crookston were so moved by a talk about the plight of pensioners alone on Christmas Day that they volunteered to serve turkey and all the trimmings to 47 pensioners.

Ashleigh Moyes, Alison McLean and Lindsey McKnight, all 17, are among 15 pupils who will be putting on pinnies and dishing up Christmas dinner at the Fred Paton Day Centre at St George’s Cross, when the Glasgow Old People’s Welfare Association (Gopwa) opens its doors to pensioners who would otherwise spend the day alone. To make the party go with a swing, entertainment will be provided by Glasgow five-piece, the Elderly Brothers.

And it’s all thanks to the generosity of Gopwa director Sheena Glass, 70, who is funding the festive feast with her husband Bill. The charity was inundated with volunteers after Sheena spoke to Rosshall pupils about the work they do.

About one million elderly people in the UK will spend Christmas alone.

Pupil Ashleigh Moyes said: “I usually spend most of Christmas Day in bed so it’s nice to make pensioners feel someone is there for them.”

Lindsey McKnight, also from Hillington, said: “My nana comes to our house for Christmas Day and I hate the idea of anyone sitting by themselves. I usually get up at 6am to open my presents and go back to bed.”

Although the centre has 47 pensioners confirmed for lunch, it has the capacity for 70 and Sheena says no-one will be turned away on Christmas Day.

Nancy Greig, 82, from Possilpark, who attends the day centre, said: “I think it’s a great thing the young people are doing. If you are home alone on Christmas Day it’s not very nice.”

Sheena’s husband Bill has the mammoth task of cooking enough turkey, sprouts and roast potatoes to feed all the pensioners.

Gopwa was formed in 1948 and now has about 120 affiliated clubs and centres.