SIXTY pensioners from Morton and Sandbeds tucked into Christmas lunches laid on by Keighley town councillor Michael Westerman.

Cllr Westerman booked the Busfeild Arms in East Morton for two lunchtimes in December to bring the neighbourhoods’ older people together. He spent £900 from the £2,000 fund for his Morton and Sandbeds ward on the gesture.

Cllr Westerman said: “It was a huge success and everyone was satisfied. The idea was to get people talking – neighbours who hadn’t seen each other for six months and other.s who never go out. There were a lot of people who hadn’t seen each other for a long time.

“I’d like to praise the staff at the Busfeild Arms and the chef. They couldn’t do enough for us. Everyone said the food was fantastic.”

Cllr Westerman said he hoped the lunches could be repeated in future years, adding: “I’d recommend other councillors across Keighley do it in their wards too.”