HOMELESS people who find themselves alone at Christmas will not be short of places to turn to for help.

Many of the city's shelters and soup kitchens will open on December 25 to provide a festive meal for those in need of warmth and company.

Despite some venues deciding to remain closed after checking other help was available, many are serving hot food or running an on-call service to ensure no-one goes without food or spends a night under the stars.

Services including Arc Light, The Peasholme Centre, Howe Hill and Ordnance Lane hostels and YACRO-supported housing will remain open throughout Christmas.

Carecent, an independent charity behind Central Methodist Church, in York, is opening for Christmas lunch from noon, but not for breakfast.

Nicky Gladstone, manager, said: "We are not open for breakfast but we will be open at 12 for Christmas dinner then we are open as usual from 8.30am to 10.45am every morning except Sunday.

"We do this every year but have always said to people that if you have a meal provided in a hostel then go to that because it's a community thing."

Anyone going to Carecent for lunch must sign up first, but the service is only open to over 18s.

SASH works with 16 to 25-year-olds in York, North Yorkshire and East Riding to prevent them becoming homeless.

The Spurriergate Centre-based group will be taking referrals for desperate youngsters until 3pm on Christmas Eve and staff will be on call the following day to look after the people currently in their homes.

Faith charity Restore is also running an on-call service on December 25 but will re-open on Boxing Day from 9am and be running as normal throughout the festive season.

Ed Hambleton, co-founder, said: "It's noticeably busier at this time of year than any other as people clamber for something as the weather gets colder, so we have seen an increase in referrals."

The city's Salvation Army Citadel, in Gillygate, and Never Give Up, in Stonegate, will not be open on Christmas Day.

Steph Brodie, manager at Never Give Up, said: "It wasn't a decision we made lightly because I made sure things were going on elsewhere first, but we are supporting Carecent the best way we can by giving out bags of socks and hats."