The two sisters with James Fraser, who they met on an Edinburgh street.

The spirit of giving was well and truly alive in Edinburgh this season when two sisters invited a homeless man to their home for Christmas... in Sweden.

Annis and Emma Lindkvist were visiting the Scottish capital city when they came across Jimmy Fraser begging in the street.

After chatting for hours and exchanging numbers, the women, aged 37 and 31, promised to keep in touch.

Annis Lindkvist/Facebook Annis Lindkvist and James Fraser at Christmas.

Fraser, who moved to Edinburgh 13 years ago, didn't expect to hear from the tourists again but after texting a few times, the sisters invited him to Sweden.

"People promise you things all the time on the street but they never materialise and friends said I shouldn't go in case I was hung, drawn and quartered when I got there," the 54-year-old told BBC News.

Read more:

* Australian man doesn't want recognition for helping homeless Kiwi woman

* LA home opened to stranded Kiwis

But after the sisters got him a passport and paid for his flight, Fraser flew to their home country on December 21.

"On the plane I was so nervous and was worrying if they would be there waiting for me or if I would be shot.

"Instead it was a beautiful experience, the family was tremendous," he said.

"Annis is such a wonderful, kind and generous person and I wish everyone was like her."

Fraser spent six days at Annis' home in Sagmyra, attending an ice hockey match, the Christmas markets and midnight mass.

"A few [people] thought it was a bit crazy since I didn't know him that much but when they met him they understood," Annis told British tabloid, The Sun

"He's a lovely person and they all love him now.

"My youngest kid asks every day when's he coming back - they miss him a lot."

Fraser, who became homeless after a divorce, has now been invited to spend Easter with the family.

"Being homeless is cold, lonely and depressing and you get a lot of abuse from people," Fraser said.

"This was an incredible act of kindness and I loved meeting Annis' friends, family and colleagues. I wish I was there now."