A celebrity chef and a model helped carve the Thanksgiving turkey at a Marylebone women’s shelter.

Aldo Zilli was joined by Lizzy Cundy and students from American InterContinental University (AIU) London on Thursday at the Marylebone Project, Cosway Street, where they provided a meal to more than 50 homeless women.

Dr Randolf Cooper, campus director and vice president of Academic Affairs at AIU London, which is also based in Marylebone, explained Thanksgiving was first formally celebrated by the pilgrims after their successful harvest but was now about “abundance and family”.

He added: “We are happy to share that spirit with the community and delighted that our students can be involved in supporting a local charity such as the Marylebone Project.”

Ms Cundy said: “I love the idea of Thanksgiving and am thrilled to be getting in the American spirit with the women of the Marylebone Project and the students of AIU London.”