EVERY Christmas there are tales to bring a warm glow to your heart, and today we are happy to feature two real community champions.

Trevor Cowlett and Icolyn ‘Ma’ Smith epitomise what the Yuletide spirit is all about.

Mr Cowlett is 78 and has been carol singing around Kennington for 50 years.

Over that time it is estimated he and fellow carollers have raised £50,000 for children with multiple learning difficulties.

Mrs Smith has just served up her 20th festive meal for the homeless in East Oxford.

This is selflessness of the highest order, yet they are not unique because this city, county and country indeed still has a lot of people willing to help out their fellow man.

So today we may highlight Mr Cowlett and Mrs Smith but we would like to send a big thank you to everyone like them for all their sterling work for others.