in greatest need. together with the many charitable organisations which do such extraordinary work in the most difficult circumstances. our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras have once again united in feeding the hungry, providing love and support throughout the year. such heartfelt solidarity is the most inspiring expression of loving our neighbour as ourself. the prince and princess of wales recently visited wales, shining a light on practical examples of this community spirit. some years ago, i was able to fulfil a lifelong wish to visit bethlehem and the church of the nativity.

there i went down into the chapel of the manger and stood in silent reverence by the silver star that is inlaid on the floor and marks the place of our lord jesus christ's birth. it meant more to me than i can possibly express to stand on that spot where, as the bible tells us, the light that has come into the world was born. while christmas is, of course, a christian celebration, the power of light overcoming darkness is celebrated across the boundaries of faith and belief. so whatever faith you have, or whether you have none, it is in this life—giving light, and with the true humility that lies in our service to others,

that i believe we can find hope for the future. let us therefore celebrate it together and cherish it always. with all my heart, i wish each of you a christmas of peace, happiness and everlasting light. # 0 little town of bethlehem # how still we see thee lie # above thy deep and dreamless sleep # the silent stars go by # yet in thy dark streets shineth # the everlasting light # the hopes and fears of all the years

# are met in thee tonight # how silently, how silently # the wondrous gift is given # so god imparts to human hearts # the blessings of his heaven... # crowd cheers # no ear may hear his coming # but in this world of sin # where meek souls will receive him still # the dear christ enters in # 0 holy child of bethlehem # descend to us, we pray

# cast out our sin and enter in # be born in us today # we hear the christmas angels # the great glad tidings tell # 0 come to us # abide with us # our lord emmanuel. # in his christmas sermon, the archbishop of canterbury has remembered those facing hardship. justin welby also paid tribute to those who've served others in the past year.

our religion editor aleem maqbool reports on a christmas where churches have often been a place of refuge and comfort at difficult time for many. one, two, three... santa claus! they're calling out for santa claus in a church in west london. it is a joyful gathering, but the children here, receiving their gifts from santa, have had an unsettling and traumatic year. they're all ukrainian refugees, spending their first christmas away from the country they fled. around 200,000 ukrainians have been given permission to come to the uk since the war started, many of them having suffered the loss of friends and relatives, but all making agonising decisions about leaving behind families and everything they own. in many cases, it is faith

organisations and churches here that have tried to provide support and comfort. that's how it's been for marianna, who came here with her two daughters. i very missed my family, because part of my family is in ukraine, but i have a new family here, and i am very happy that i can share this christmas time with family here in this church, and to be happy and to bejoy. and i'm very happy that my children are smiling now. oh, sorry. and i can cry! it's very good because when i came, i couldn't cry. in his sermon at canterbury cathedral, archbishopjustin welby remembered those suffering at christmas. what of the evils that are being inflicted to this day

on the suffering and courageous people of ukraine, as they continue to endure and resist russia's unjust and brutal invasion of their country? what of those in this country who will be cold and hungry today, as the cost—of—living crisis continues to cause such immense anxiety and hardship? another city, another place of worship, another community in need. this church in salford in manchester is one of around 3,000 places in the country that have opened up as a warm space for those who can't afford to heat their homes this christmas. basically, going back about 150 years, this is what the church did. you went to a town, you went to a city, the church was open. you would just go into the building and you would sit and you would probably pray, and the vicar might come and chat to you. so we're only doing what the church has done historically over the years just by opening up our building. some here talked of the way in which their difficulties have been heightened around christmas time, like annie, who's 81. especially when you've got grandchildren, and they're wanting christmas things.

so you're cutting things back, what you'd normally put on the heating and even food, and down here, you get looked after. you know, it's wonderful. is that the position you're in, with grandkids? with grandchildren. i can give them a little bit more than what i could have. coming down here, it helps. but this warm space operates two nights a week. there are many around the country who don't have access to a hub like it at all. thank you very much. merry christmas. and when it comes to food or energy poverty, or to refugees in the uk, the needs since last christmas have soared. aleem maqbool, bbc news in manchester. and you can get hold of me on twitter.

now on bbc news, we've got the weather forecast with louise lear. good evening. it's been a mild christmas day with plenty of showers around. but as the temperatures fall, particularly in the far north—west, we are likely to see some of those showers turning increasingly wintry. it's behind this weather front here, as the wind direction changes to a north—westerly. and so that means we could start to see some accumulations of snow even at lower levels, as much as three centimetres in the far north—west of scotland, perhaps at ten centimetres to wake up to to higher ground across scotland on boxing day morning. so, yes, still the risk of some further sleet and snow showers. into boxing day, showers of rain into northern ireland and generally along west facing coasts of england and wales. further inland, away from the strength of that wind, we will see a little more shelter, a little more sunshine and a little more warmth, with temperatures peaking at 10 degrees, but feeling noticeably cooler in the cloud with the showers around. wet and windy weather for all of us on tuesday, but on the whole, staying mild.

this is bbc world news, the headlines king charles pays tribute to his late mother, queen elizabeth — and reflects on the cost of living crisis — in his first christmas message. at least 2a people have died in the united states as a severe arctic freeze continues to grip much of north america. the scope of the storm has been unprecendented, stretching from canada as far south as the rio grande.

police in liverpool, in the north of england,