The Chelsea Pensioners have been given a festive treat after UK farmers donated home produced turkeys for Christmas dinner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London.

The turkeys were delivered to the hospital on Friday as part of the NFU Turkeys for Troops scheme, which has seen British farmers donate turkeys to some of the Ministry of Defence’s units and hospitals over the past week.

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Farmer Tom Copas from COPAS farm in Berkshire donated the turkeys for the hospital and joins the list of farmers taking part in the campaign from Cheshire, Oxfordshire, Cornwall, Kent, Essex, Worcestershire, Pembrokeshire, Tyne and Wear and Yorkshire. Around 1,200 dinners for sick and injured troops, as well as the Chelsea Pensioners, will be served as a result.

Chelsea Pensioners Operation manager Laura Jayne Card said: “We would like to say thank you on behalf of all of the Chelsea Pensioners who will be staying at the Royal Hospital Chelsea over the Christmas period. We are extremely grateful for the NFU’s generous contribution.”

NFU poultry adviser Christopher Dickinson said: “Turkeys for Troops has been a huge success. It has been a great way for British farmers to show their gratitude to the troops who give so much protecting our nation.”