EAST Lancashire charities hope supporters will grant their Christmas wishes during the season of goodwill.

Plummeting temperatures mean cash-strapped families face a problematic winter, with some people having to choose between eating and heating, one group said.

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Volunteers around the county are doing their best to help those most in need over the festive period - and urged people to dig deep.

Ros Duerden, project manager at Blackburn Foodbank, said the Brunswick Street venue had its busiest ever day last Friday.

She said: “Our last day before Christmas is next Monday then we are closed until January 2. Last Friday we gave out meals to 140 people. It was busy again yesterday and I think it’s going to be that way right through Christmas.

“What I noticed last week was an increase in people saying they had no gas or electricity to actually cook meals. Our biggest challenge is from mid-January to March, when people tend to forget about us and aren’t so well-off themselves.

“People in Blackburn have been fantastic though and they are the reason we are able to help so many families.”

James Balderstone, community administrator at homelessness charity Emmaus, said it also received more referrals during winter.

He appealed for people receiving presents at Christmas to consider donating older goods to the organisation’s shops in Burnley and Accrington.

He said: “We have space for 30 people and we do tend to get more referrals at Christmas. A lot of the time we are full but if people are moving on we do what we can to accommodate referrals from agencies and self-referrals.

“Obviously any money we make goes towards our core aim of helping the homeless and we really appreciate people giving whatever they can.”

Lucy Hardwick, manager of Maundy Relief in Accrington, said she had noticed an increase in homeless people seeking assistance during December.

She said: “We do stay open on Christmas Day for a couple of hours just to provide food and drink between midday and 2pm. We do have a particular appeal for men’s gloves and socks this year.

“There seem to be a shortage of those this year and there are definitely a few more people homeless and sofa-surfing who are struggling with the cold. More people than ever seem to be homeless.”

Vicki Appleton, chairman of trustees at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield, said she would encourage people who are struggling to buy gifts for friends with everything to sponsor one of their farm animals.

She added: “We also would want to ask people not to ‘dump’ cats and kittens or buy pets as presents which may not always be well received.”

Christina Cope, fundraising manager at Pendleside Hospice in Reedley, said it used Christmas as a time to reflect on loved ones who had died in the past year.

The hospice’s annual Light Up A Life remembrance service, which will feature performances by Crawshawbooth singer Grace O’Malley and Burnley-based Basics Junior Theatre School, is on Sunday.

The names of everyone remembered will be entered into a Book of Remembrance, sponsored by Alderson and Horan Funeral Services.