The spirit of Christmas giving was truly alive at Birmingham New Street station tonight as 200 homeless people were treated to a hot festive dinner.

The free yuletide party for those without a place to call their own included a three-course banquet at a round-table area on the busy lower concourse.

Carol singers, a DJ and Santa made an appearance at the Christmas Eve event arranged by Midlands Langar Seva Society and supported by Network Rail.

The night, which had a moving choral performance, was not just about laying on food, but bringing people together at a time of year when many feel lonely and isolated.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

Randhir Singh, chief executive of the society, said: “Midlands Langar Seva Society are out seven nights a week, not only across Birmingham but across the UK.

“Our main purpose is to serve humanity and serve hot meals to people less fortunate than ourselves, give out hats, clothes and warm clothing and give hope.

"Every year around about a week before Christmas we start giving out Christmas presents and cards.

"A lot of people around this time of year start missing their families, they experience depression and the suicide rate is quite high as well.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

“Tonight we are putting on a three-course, sit down Christmas meal and giving out Christmas presents, with one of the managers of Network Rail dressing as Santa.

“It's their night and we are making it special for them.”

Among the guests sitting down with friends to the Christmas meal, served up by volunteers in festive dress on the ground floor concourse, was Louise Gall, who normally sleeps rough.

Louise, 41, said: “What they have done for us is amazing.

“I live on the streets and without this I wouldn't have had a Christmas meal, the only way I could have had a hot meal would be by begging on the streets.

“I spent last night sleeping outside the station where the bikes are stored, it was freezing cold.

“It's amazing what they have done for the homeless.”

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

The society had noticed by being out on the streets that many homeless people missed their families and felt isolated from society in general.

Numbers of homeless people are said to be at crisis levels by national charities and the society's work on the ground has borne this out.

Mr Singh said: “We are getting busier and busier. The people we see here tonight are just our service users, and we recognise 90 per cent of them.

“Through this Christmas dinner and with the support of Network Rail, we have been able to make it a bit special for them.”

Round tables were decked out with donated food and soft drinks, including Christmas crackers.

Craig Stenning, deputy station manager, said: “It's about giving back to the community.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

“As well as the meal there are some presents that have been donated by the retailers in the station.

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“We are at the heart of the community and this is about giving back to the most lonely and vulnerable people in our society.

"For the staff here it's worth it to see the guests having a nice time.”

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

Carols at the Christmas dinner were sung by a choir from the Black Country and DJ Sat of Paradigm Entertainment.

The society, which won a TSB Local Pride of Birmingham Award in April 2017, is a non-profit organisation that aims to help the homeless and provide food to those in need.

Langar is a Sikh and Punjabi term for a communal free kitchen.

The Christmas dinner event comes after the Cathedral hosted a similar event on Saturday, see video below.