A team of quick thinking staff at Beccles Hospital saved Christmas Day for patients after a freezer malfunction threatened to ruin lunch.

Employees on the Minsmere Ward spotted the freezer had broken on Christmas Eve.

They sprang into action rescuing as much food as possible and called the Carlton Court inpatient facility, in Lowestoft, which is run by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

Two back-up freezers were sent over and the 21 patients were able to enjoy turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas Day.

Liz Spires, hospital matron, said: “Talk about collaborative working - everybody worked together to save the day.

“I don’t think the patients were even aware of the drama that was going on around them, but that is how it should be.

“They may not be able to be home with their families but there was no way we were going to have them missing a proper Christmas lunch.”