THE mayor of Royal Wootton Bassett’s charity dinner helped to raise more than £1,700 for the homeless shelter The Filling Station.

The annual meal at Oriental Aroma in the High Street was on September 21, and as well as the two-course dinner which cost a £14 donation each, there were also a raffle, a mini auction, games and live music from LAGACY.

Mayor Susan Hughes has chosen the Filling Station as her charity for the year.

She said: “The Filling Station works to feed homeless people on the streets of Swindon. It runs a weekly soup kitchen from a car park in the town centre and is staffed by 15 volunteers, providing support to about 50 men and women who are facing homelessness.

“The soup kitchen provides not only hot soup, but hot dogs, hot drinks, blankets, clothing, toiletries and also a supply of tinned goods each week.

“The 15 volunteers each week will vary and are part of a team of about 200. Volunteers will not only work at the soup kitchen but are also needed to drive, organise and clear up the van which brings supplies.

“The organisation raises its own funding and has no paid staff. It receives most of its support from a network of local churches which provide sandwiches for the clients and also contribute towards fundraising.”