An Aberystwyth café owner has offered free food to those facing the prospect of spending Christmas alone for the third year in a row.

Ahmet Acikel, a Turkish national who has lived in Aberystwyth with his family for over 17 years, is once again inviting people who may be alone on Christmas Day — whether they are homeless, elderly or otherwise — into his café to share a free meal and each other’s company.

Mr Acikel, owner of Home Café on Pier Street, has played down the ongoing festive gesture and said he was “happy to help” those in a less fortunate position than himself.

“I am open on Christmas Day anyway — I have a few bookings — and I thought I might as well stick a couple more turkeys in the oven,” he said.

“I have got elderly customers coming in so I thought I might as well do it for the others — those without a home, or older people who have got no family.

“As a local business, I want to help people. I want them to come in as customers. I want them to know there is a place for them anytime.”

Last year was the first time he had publicised the event, but on Christmas Day in 2016 he had around 12 people in for free food, despite not advertising the plan.

Last year, Mr Acikel said, those numbers grew and he was excited to do it all again.

“No older and homeless person in Aberystwyth should be alone on Christmas Day unless they want to be,” he said. “We are trying to achieve that vision and offer free food on Christmas Day.

“We will sit with them and have good company on Christmas Day with free food, drinks and cakes.”

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