People struggling with the cost of living crisis are being invited to seek out a "warm place" of refuge at Shavington Village Hall.

Families, who may be having a hard time meeting their fuel bills, and those who may be experiencing food poverty and social isolation can drop into the hall on Sunday afternoons this month for companionship, games and refreshments, and at the same time keep out of the cold.

Shavington-cum-Gresty Parish Council has laid on the hall as a space for people to meet up and crucially stay warm after successfully applying to be part of Cheshire East Council's Warm PlaCEs scheme

Cheshire East Mayor Cllr David Marren, who was invited by the parish council to see what was on offer, said: "I was told that the first warm Sunday would be dedicated to keeping visitors amused by playing games of bingo.

"As I happened to be looking after three of my grandchildren that day, I decided to take them with me and we had a great afternoon. I'd say that experience was shared by everybody at the hall, which was pretty full."

The aim of the Warm PlaCEs scheme is to provide free, public places for people to go to get warm, save money on their heating costs and avoid social isolation, while also receiving vital support and advice.

Last year the borough council invited voluntary, community and social enterprise groups to join the programme. Organisations can apply for a grant of £250 or £1,000 to help set up or improve an existing warm space for their community this winter.

Cllr Marren added: "Credit to the parish council for organising the event, which not only kept us warm, but also kept us amusingly occupied.

"Motherwell Cheshire, which provides services for women by women focused on health and well-being, turned up with a big rack of new-looking coats to give away.

"A big factor in the afternoon's success was the support of volunteers from the WI who set up, tidied up, made the hot drinks and did all sorts of other things.

"There is hardly any part of our society where volunteers don't make a positive impact. Without volunteers and voluntary groups, our society would be a much poorer place."

There are two more Warm Sundays planned for the rest of this month, including this coming Sunday, January 22 (2 - 5pm) when there will be an afternoon of table-top games and crafts.

While on Sunday, January 29 there will be a beetle drive.

To find out more about about 'Warm PlaCEs' see here.