FOR scores of Swindon people, the real spirit of Christmas 2001 wasn't to be found in a pile of presents or the bottom of a festive glass.

Instead, it was just off a dual carriageway in the middle of town, where one of the town's longest-running homeless shelters was bringing festive cheer to about 40 homeless and lonely people.

Over the last 13 years, the Care at Christmas shelter has given food, warmth and companionship to hundreds of people without a place to live at Christmas, or without anyone else to spend it with.

And this year, Park North Methodist Church, off Queens Drive, was the place to be for four days of good dinners, good company, and a good, warm, night's sleep.

One of the shelter's oldest customers, Ted Coleman, 61, had forsaken his home in Medgbury Road for a few nights being waited on "hand, foot, and finger" by the 40 volunteers who this year gave up part of their family Christmas to be at the shelter.

Ted, who in his prime was perhaps Swindon's best-dressed Teddy Boy, has since succumbed to alcohol problems, but jokes that his nine Christmases at the shelter have given him the right to the choicest cuts of Christmas turkey. "I think it's beautiful here," said Ted.

"I'm a loner. I usually like to be alone, but I come here for friendship. There are some good volunteers here."

Also seeking companionship at the shelter was Graham Gregory, 40, from Wootton Bassett, who came to the shelter because his Penhill-based father and stepmother were on holiday in America.

"It's nice to be with your family and I miss them, but this is a good thing to have in Swindon," he said.

"I come here for the company, and it's good food, too." On Christmas Day, everyone staying at the hostel was treated to a full English breakfast and a traditional turkey dinner.

On Boxing Day, roast lamb, pork and turkey were on the lunch menu which suited homeless Neil Harvey down to the ground.

Neil, 41, had come all the way from Bracknell, where he normally sleeps rough, to be at the Swindon shelter.

He said four nights of good sleep and good meals would be just the thing to get his strength up before returning to the streets.

"I don't particularly like turkey, but it's all right here, because I don't often get a hot dinner," said Neil. "If I wasn't here, I'd probably still be sleeping rough in Bracknell, or in Maidenhead, where they do a soup kitchen."

For Patsy Moloney, 57, the volunteers' team leader on Boxing Day, the shelter is all about the spirit of Christmas.

"I do it because it's Christmas time, and if people need help, I want to be there to help them it's a time for giving," said Patsy, of Helston Road.

Another volunteer, June Kennedy, 56, a care home manager from Haydon Wick, took time out from cleaning out the shelter's toilets to set out her philosophy of volunteering at Christmas. She said: "Many of us have reached a stage in life when we want to give back something useful to say thank you for how lucky we've been." said June.