FIFTY pensioners were wined and dined in style on Wednesday thanks to an increasingly popular village tradition.

The Holt Luncheon Club members packed into the village hall for a spread of vegetable soup, roast lamb and a meringue pudding. This was all washed down with 36 bottles of wine, three bottles of port and six bottles of sherry as the pensioners made the most of the occasion.

Food, drink, table service and raffle prizes were provided by Holt firm Norbeck Data Ltd, which has been sponsoring the event since 2000. The club, which meets every week, had wanted to do something special to celebrate the millennium and enlisted Norbeck Data's support.

The initial event proved so popular that the firm was asked to continue the following year and the meal has now become an annual highlight for the pensioners.

Wednesday's lunch cost Norbeck Data around £500, but staff managing director Andrew Beck said it was money well spent.

He said: "It's getting more and more popular. We had trouble getting them home, they enjoyed it so much.

"They thoroughly look forward to it each year and make a big effort to get dressed up."