A breakfast charity in Swindon helping to keep homeless people fed has expanded its service thanks to new funding.

Big Breakfast Plus, based at the Pilgrim Centre on Regents Street, serves up breakfast every day from 7.30am to 9am for anyone homeless, hungry or just in need of community support.

Volunteers work at lightning pace to get through 770 eggs, 770 rashers of bacon, 840 sausages and 50 litres of milk a week - all while offering company to anyone who needs it.

But the vital charity has been run largely on donations, with little to no regular funding.

Now, a new funding boost from Swindon Borough Council means that Big Breakfast Plus users can also pick up their five-a-day.

The charity is offering bags of fruit for its customers to take away with them after their hot breakfast.

In the first week alone of the new scheme, nearly 1,800 pieces of fruit have been given out.

Cafe users can select their own fruit to take with them for the dayCafe users can select their own fruit to take with them for the day (Image: Big Breakfast Plus) Charlotte Mannion, chair of the Trustees, says it's vital that vulnerable people have access to healthy options too.

“We were unexpectedly offered £3,000 by the council from the Government Household Support Fund, and we all thought offering fruit would be a good addition to the breakfast we already provide,” explained Charlotte.

“It’s gone down very well with our guests, who are enjoying this extra food we are able to offer.

"They take a paper bag and can select what they like.

"As soon as people heard about the scheme, we also started to receive donations from generous members of the public, who have brought in apples and plums.”

Currently, Big Breakfast Plus is the only charitable organisation in Swindon to provide a free cooked breakfast to anyone who needs it.

The breakfast club is open to anyone in need regardless of their situation, and volunteers don’t ask questions or turn anyone away.

Big Breakfast Plus relies on its volunteers and donationsBig Breakfast Plus relies on its volunteers and donations (Image: Big Breakfast Plus) But along with donations, the charity is always looking for more volunteers as the number of cafe users continues to rise.

“I think it’s partly due to the cost of living crisis and also because there’s less food available in the town now since the hostel has closed their canteen," added Charlotte.

“We’re also seeing more lonely and isolated people starting to come in.

“We try and create a warm atmosphere so they don’t feel like charity cases because they're not.

"They're a part of our community as much as the rest of us.”