FIREFIGHTERS and paramedics in Swindon were well fed on New Year's Day thanks to an Eascott Hill restaurant.

Smile Thai Cafe and Takeaway started 2020 with a good deed by cooking up hot meals for men and women working for the emergency services.

Eceki Chanwit, 43, wanted to help others after his mum Warunee died on January 1, 25 years ago.

He said: “She died after battling cancer and since she passed away, I’ve always done a good deed on that day because I don’t want to celebrate it.”

Eceki opened Smile Thai three years ago after working with another takeaway company.

He had always wanted to open his own business and it was his dream to become a chef, so when the premises became available he decided to go for it.

But when he goes back to his home country, Thailand, he is just as generous.

He said: “We have supported the police before and I’ve donated books to various school libraries and I will continue to keep doing it.

“I also do similar charity work in Thailand when I go there on holiday, it’s just nice to help others.”

Eceki and his employees cooked a range of dishes including egg fried rice, chicken, pork, egg noodles and vegetables for them to dig into.

Then they took the food in person to the ambulance station at Queens Drive and Swindon Fire Station at Drove Road.

He told the Adver: “I feel grateful for the work they do and it’s a difficult job they have to do. They’re the people who stand by and help others so I thought why not help them because they work so hard. They put their lives on the line to help those who are in danger or unwell.

“It’s marvellous to do these things. When they saw the food they had big smiles on their faces, it’s a good start to the year. It’s a good feeling. I’m not looking for anything in return, it’s just important to help others.”

Some of Eceki's staff worked in on their day off and the family of one of them donated £200 to Smile Thai to help them get the food together.

It wasn’t just the emergency services who benefited. Smile Thai went to various homeless shelters to give out the remaining food.

A spokesman for the South Western Ambulance Service, said: “Our hardworking staff are always grateful when people show their appreciation for the service we provide to patients.”