A WEYMOUTH store is helping the homeless through weekly donations of food.

Boxes of best before expired goods are proving a hit with users of Soul Food, a charity which has worked for years to help the homeless in the area.

Each week outreach worker Angie Barnes visits the Bargain Brand Food outlet in Lynch Lane to load up her car with food for rough sleepers.

From ingredients which provide hot meals to snacks and drinks, Miss Barnes said the donations are ‘invaluable’.

Couples Colin and Tracy Williams and Trevor and Helene Dymott set up the outlet six months ago to provide cheaper food for the community.

Mr Williams said: “We are planning to become a community initiative where our profits will eventually go to helping out with projects and local charities.

“At the moment we are running at a loss but we have been able to help Soul Food by donating our best before expired goods or items with faulty packaging and may not be fit to go on the shelf.

“They are completely safe and they would otherwise be wasted.

“We have been working with Angie for around four months and we let her take as much food as she likes.”

Miss Barnes, who has been volunteering with the group for many years, added: “I’d like to thank Colin and Trevor for their weekly donations – their help has been invaluable.

“Despite the recession they realise there are individuals who are a lot worse off.

“Our users, which are made up of men, women and sometimes children, are really very grateful.

“People are beginning to realise more about how difficult it is for rough sleepers and their generosity is really something amazing.”

Mr Dymott added that in order to help the community further, more public support would be needed.

Bargain Brand Food Outlet is open Monday to Saturday between 9am and 2pm.