Big Ryan and South Shore cafe crew continue soup kitchen during lockdown

The team at Mag's Beach Cafe 2, on Lytham Road, has been running the sessions for Blackpool's homeless people every Wednesday from 6pm, since August.

Big Ryan Smith, a prolific fundraiser from South Shore who has helped numerous cause, set up the soup kitchen with cafe operators, Sylvia Parkes, her partner George Reilly and her sister Rebecca Parkes.

But since more stringent Coronavirus restrictions came in, cafe staff have had to offer the meals outdoors and provide masks when the visitors need them, as part of the lockdown rules.

Staff said issues developed with the police because they felt officers were being over zealous in policing of Covid rules and said a police car had been parked outside the cafe, making those involved feel uncomfortable.

But Sylvia Parkes, 30, who runs the establishment with her her sister, Rebecca Parkes, says the problems have been resolved after she raised the issue with Blackpool Police..

She said: "The sessions are continuing every week.

"The police said they had an issue because the homeless people couldn't leave the usual details for track and trace, but they are homeless - they don't have addresses and they don't have phones.

"But the police now accept that if we put their address as certain bus shelters they use, that will be enough, and we are still offering the service.

"We do provide masks and are making sure we follow the rules."

In addition to that, staff are also preparing food parcels for Blackpool children every day.

Homeless couple Steven Pinnington, 38, and Cheryl Malone, 39, have been using the cafe service in recent weeks and Steven said: "They don't just give you food here, they give you the time of day and actually talk you."

Insp David Wilson, of Blackpool Police, said: "We are aware of the fantastic work that Sylvia and her team are doing at the café on Lytham Road in terms of providing meals to disadvantaged people in Blackpool.

"Lancashire Constabulary has a responsibility to monitor public gatherings, in line with national guidance and it is our intention to work together with our partners at the council and to continue to work with Sylvia to ensure that all activity is within the Covid guidelines to protect the customers, staff and the wider public of Blackpool.

"We arranged to meet Sylvia to help ensure compliance, and remain available as a source of advice going forward."

John Blackledge, Blackpool Council Director of Community and Environmental Services, said: “Our Public Protection team are working closely with organisations such as the police to ensure that any business in the town is COVID-compliant and adhering to all necessary regulations, as we have a responsibility to protect customers and staff.”