One of Belfast's busiest soup kitchens will operate as a take-away only service this weekend.
St Patrick's Soup Kitchen on Donegall Street, which opened in April 2017, said it had taken the decision in a bid to protect the volunteers and those who use it, during the coronavirus outbreak.
The soup kitchen normally opens to from 7pm to 9pm on a Friday and a Saturday however this weekend, no-one will be allowed to sit in, instead they will receive a take-away meal and must then leave.
Paul McCusker, who co-founded the soup kitchen, said the decision had been made in keeping with "social distancing advice".
However, Mr McCusker revealed that volunteers would still be out-and-about delivering food.
"We will support rough sleepers, We will go into the community and deliver food," he said.
"People may be afraid to leave their homes or hostels. If you do not want to come, our volunteers will come and drop it off".
Mr McCusker said the soup kitchen had seen requests for food parcels more than double from around five a day to between 10 and 20 a day.
