They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but for hungry commuters in Old Town earlier today there was a free breakfast.

Staff at Helen Browning’s Chop House gave away dozens of organic bacon rolls, sausage baps and bowls of muesli and granola this morning.

They also had 500 goody bags of organic produce to give away.

The Wood Street restaurant, which has been trading for just over a year, handed out the free meals to mark Wake Up to Organic – a national campaign celebrating organic food.

By 8.30am – just half an hour after opening – restaurant staff estimated that they’d served 40 people.

Tish Meads, 37, manager of Helen Browning’s Chop House, said: “It’s great fun. The sun’s shining and everyone’s happy.”

The Wood Street restaurant is owned by Bishopstone farmer Helen Browning. She also owns Bishopstone hotel the Royal Oak, as well as food brand Helen Browning’s Organic.

Both the Chop House and the Royal Oak serve pork, beef, veal and lamb from her farm in Bishopstone, east of Swindon.

Head chef Manfred Neder, 45, who has been working at the Wood Street restaurant for less than a month, said: “For a chef it’s exciting – the meat all comes directly from the farm.”

The German chef, who is planning to spend a day on the farm next week, added of the meat: “It’s got a better flavour. The sausages just taste more porky and they don’t shrink so much.”

Customers at the Chop House left with broad smiles. Rod Hebden, 40, said: “It’s fantastic. The bacon is amazing.”

Business owner Matt Greenwood, 22, said he had been “surprised” to discover the free breakfasts.

“It was good,” said the vegetarian – who said he was telling his colleagues to race to the restaurant.

Vicky McNicholas, 49, managing director of Eastbrook Farm – the Browning family farm – said that organic produce was growing in popularity.

“People have more faith and trust in an organic product,” she said.