A WRITER has become so concerned at the plight of homeless people in Oxford that he has taken to the streets with a mobile soup kitchen.

Richard Brabin said he has noticed a stark increase in the number of homeless people this year and became concerned particularly after the cold weather hit in December.

The 34-year-old from East Oxford, who previously ran a mobile catering business from his bicycle, is now dishing out portions of homemade soup to anyone in need in central Oxford.

His expeditions started in the week before Christmas and he says that they have proved such a ‘resounding success’ that he wants to continue doing it in the long term.

He said: “I used to run a gourmet wrap business using the bike at weddings and festivals about three or four years ago.

“Since then it’s just been lying around in the garage at home.

“I’ve wanted to do something to help the homeless for a long time and when I saw the situation we are in this winter and how bad homelessness has got, I felt it was the perfect way of getting out there and doing what I could.”

Calling himself the Soup Peddler, the freelance writer, a music reviewer for the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times, cooks big batches of different flavour soups at his home on Marston Street and then cycles into the centre where he sets up his mobile soup kitchen on Cornmarket Street.

Mr Brabin says he usually serves around 50 or 60 people a night and has fed up to 300 people since he started the initiative.

He has set up a crowd funder online and supporters have donated £540 so far towards a £1,500 target.

Donations are also being collected from the bike and ‘a big chunk of money’ has been given already, according to Mr Brabin.

All the money raised is going towards ingredients, equipment and the upkeep of the bicycle.

He said: “I will keep doing it until a better plan of action comes along.

“It’s not just the homeless, these are difficult times and there are a lot of people who cannot afford a decent meal at this time of year so we have no criteria, anyone is welcome to share some soup with us.”

Last year at a conference bringing together councils, charities, homeless support services and businesses to tackle homelessness, city council leader Bob Price said it was clear the problem of rough sleeping was getting a lot worse.

In September, up to 50 people were believed to be sleeping rough on the streets each night while in 2016 the council helped more than 1,100 families on the verge of becoming homeless.

The council has had to make more beds available because of severe weather twice already this winter.

Various organisations have also launched a series of initiatives including opening up churches and shops to give homeless people shelter.

It has previously be warned that cuts to homelessness services and changes in housing benefits is making the situation worse.

Mr Brabin said that he believes the homelessness is ‘becoming an epidemic’ and the situation is ‘becoming increasingly bleak.’

He said: “My aim is to try and give these poor people a hot meal as often as is possible to keep them warm through the winter months and beyond.

“It’s hardly a solution but hopefully a hearty and wholesome bowl of soup will at least let them know we care and want to help.”

To donate or support the Soup Peddler, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thesouppeddler