Veterans' breakfast serves as a chance to bring together community as diners help collect for foodbank at Christmas

Seaham Veterans’ Breakfast Club is held on the first Saturday of the month at The Ship's Ball cafe in the town’s Sea Cadet headquarters on North Terrace.

While it helps bring together people with an Armed Forces background, it is open to all, helping forge friendships and tackle loneliness.

The table service set up also helps train up the cadet members to take orders and serve, with a full cooked breakfast on offer from 10am to noon for £4.

It is run by Dave McKenna, who served as a Colour Sergeant in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, a town councillor and who heads up the Seaham Remember Them Fund, in partnership with Jacqueline Dixon, commander of the Sea Cadet corps.

As guests pulled on their festive jumpers for the meal, they also added to a collection of items which will be gifted to one of the town’s foodbanks.

Dave said: “In the run up to Christmas, we thought we'd like to do our bit for others.

“The club has been going for six months and it’s gone from strength to strength and we've got 40 vets coming down, which is really good and it’s got a nice feel about it.

“That's what it’s all about, and it’s been lovely to see people socialising, making friends, coming together.

“It’s also good for the cadets, they get something out of it as well.”