Homeless people in Swindon are being offered free haircuts thanks to local hairdressers and homeless volunteer group Alternative Angels.

Linda Roberts-Irving, 67, from West Swindon, has been running Alternative Angels for two and a half years to provide home-cooked meals to the homeless community in Swindon.

All the food is made by volunteers, served hot and cold, underneath the steps by the Wyvern Theatre every Tuesday and Thursday evening.

Linda told the Adver: “We don’t take food to anybody, we just serve it here because I think they integrate better down here. Some of these guys have been coming to us from the very beginning.”

Linda has become a cherished figure among the homeless community, some affectionately calling her nanny. “When they know you, they want someone to talk to,” she said. “That’s why a lot of them come down. We just try and do what we can do for them.”

This is the first time the group has offered free haircuts. Local hairdressers from Miller & Holland in Old Town came down with the help of volunteer Claire Power to give the gents a trim.

Gareth Parry, 44, from Park South, who has been helping with the Angels for six months, said: “We started it to help the homeless. A lot of them can’t afford to get their haircuts. It’s giving them a bit of inspiration to look a bit better and feel better about themselves to move on. We like to see people start developing and moving on to another stage.

“We just really want to help out. The heart of it is helping people, talking to them, and sign pointing them in the right direction.”

Richard Garstang, who was previously homeless but now lives in Amber Court, has been coming since Alternative Angels started.

He said: “These are quality ladies and I’ve known them a long time. It’s nice to meet friends here and they’ve helped me out in the past when I was moving around a lot.”

Alan Brown, who managed to book himself in for a haircut, praised the work the group do. “You can’t thank them enough. They’ve always turned up. In the snow, bank holidays, they’re here.

“It’s unbelievable what these people do for us. Too good to be true. They are all angels.”