Two friends are filling the stomachs of homeless and vulnerable people in Leatherhead and filling the gap left by the closure of a Mole Valley charity.

The Pitstop was forced to temporarily stop its provision of free lunches, anger management classes, job training and assistance with accommodation, when an educational organisation took over its premises in August.

It had used a temporary location at Leatherhead United Reformed Church since its original site at Leatherhead Football Club was severely flooded on Christmas Eve 2013.

It is currently seeking a new home in the area after its closure - which it said was temporary. 

But Colin Plumpton, an ex-trustee of the charity, and his friend David Putland, have resurrected the care of needy people in the area by creating Lunchbox - weekly lunches at Leatherhead Methodist Church hall every Wednesday.

Your Local Guardian:

Flooded: The original site.

Mr Plumpton said: "Pitstop closing for the foreseeable future left a void for anybody who needs a good hot meal.

"So we decided to put on a one-day-a-week lunch voluntarily in the Methodist chapel.

"This is totally independent of Pitstop. It is independent of the churches. It is just two Christians and a few volunteers."

Your Local Guardian:

L-R: Volunteers Peter Browne, Lynne White, Anne Marshall, Julian Swabey, and Colin Plumpton and Dave Putland

Lunchbox starts on Wednesday, October 7 at the Leatherhead Methodist Church hall in Church Road and will run every Wednesday lunchtime from 11am to 2pm. It will be open to anyone over the age of 16.

Mr Plumpton said: "It will be as long as Pitstop remains closed. I doubt they will be open this side of Christmas.

"We are just here to fill the gap."

The pair are looking for volunteers to help at Lunchbox as well as donations of tinned food.

Anyone who can help can attend the service's first session on Wednesday, or call Mr Plumpton on 01932 586 988.