A GENEROUS donor spent £100 to subsidise breakfasts for those who cannot afford a full English.

Duncan Cooper, 42, from Chelmsford, covered the cost of 20 people's meals in the GO4 Market Cafe, at Holy Trinity Church.

The new scheme was launched last month to help people experiencing financial difficulties and relies on compassionate customers giving £5.

Mr Cooper, who went to college in Colchester, said he acted in the "spur of the moment".

He said: "I was reading some of the information Christopher Lee had posted on Twitter over the past couple of days on how Colchester Council spend more on arts than old age care, homelessness and dealing with poverty combined.

"Then when I was going through town I saw several rough sleepers. It was a brisk cold morning and I just thought, something should be done to help people, right now, directly.

"Pete's cafe and the guys there are the epitome of direct action - helping people on a daily basis - they are the real heroes. I just wanted to do something to help."

Staff at the Market Cafe took to Facebook to praise Mr Cooper for his act of kindness.

Pete Hope, GO4 director, said: "A lot of our customers have been extremely generous in donating breakfasts and the homeless people coming in also are extremely grateful, as our visitor comments book shows.

"But Duncan's generosity, which was completely unexpected, has really encouraged us in our work with those on the margins of our community."