AS the frost bites and the sky threatens rain and snow, most of us can shut ourselves away and enjoy Christmas.

But there are many people in Oxford who do not have a home, or a family, or somewhere safe and warm to go.

Icolyn Smith has been running a weekly community soup kitchen in East Oxford for 17 years - and on Wednesday she served a full Christmas meal to about 50 people at the Asian Cultural Centre in Manzil Way.

Miss Smith, a former carer from Cowley, is known to regulars as "Ma" or "Sister Smith".

She said: "We do have a lot of community support, from the Church, and from the city council, but we still need donations. We do the Christmas meal every year - and we do a hot meal 12 months of the year. It is important because it is meeting the needs of people."

Brian, 54, has been sleeping rough for 15 years - and has nowhere to spend Christmas.

He said: "I am 110 per cent behind this place. I enjoy it very much and they look after me."

Brandon, 34, who has spent about six years sleeping rough in Oxford, was full of praise for the kitchen.Volunteer helpers Anna Potter and ten-year-old Dominic Ridley He said: "It's just a place that you know you can get yourself a hot meal because things can be quite difficult living on benefits and everything else, and it also gives you an opportunity to speak to people.

"There are never any arguments here, it is really relaxed and a really pleasant place to be. I think this place is very important, this woman does it every week, it's absolutely amazing."

Anthony Craben, 49, has recently moved into housing linked to Oxford Night Shelter.

He said: "We come here nearly every Wednesday if we can.

"It means a lot on a cold day, there is nowhere else you can really go to get a good meal so it is a lifesaver for a lot of people."

And 81-year-old Ben Howell, who lives alone and has been coming for three to four weeks, said: "They always make a lovely meal. This will be the best Christmas present I could ask for."

Charlie Boscott used to be a regular at the kitchen - and later returned as a volunteer.

He said: "I was not homeless but I came here with a friend who was looking for someone.

"Even though I came here for meals, these past few years I have turned my life around and now I am helping Sister Smith.

"We never have any problems here, they have too much respect for her - she is like a mother to all of us, to me as well."

Among those helping out was nine-year-old William Whitworth, from Abingdon, who volunteered with his mother and brother.

He said: "We came down because we heard about Miss Smith and we thought it would be a good idea to help.

"It is really good, and I have met a lot of people I wouldn't otherwise. It feels really good to be able to help."

Oxford Brookes University nutrition student Anna Potter, 23, from Cowley, has been helping at the kitchen for several months.

She said: "The idea is that I come and meet people and talk to them about food and good health practices but more importantly, I enjoy it.

"The people are really lovely and it's nice feeling useful."