STAFF from a coffee shop in Malvern have been busy delivering warm clothes and blankets to the homeless, and have received more donations from members of the public.

Staff from the Costa Coffee branch in Church Street started a collection of items to keep rough sleepers warm before heading out over the weekend to deliver the items to them.

Since then more donations have been added and staff say a collection box in-store has been overflowing with donations.

Kirstie Brown, manager of the store, said: “We went out over the weekend and handed out the items which the rough sleepers were grateful for, and when I came in on Monday morning the pile was huge.

“Everyone at Costa Church Street has been both amazed and grateful not only to customers but passers-by walking past the shop who have donated.

“So many people have benefited and will benefit greatly from everything we have had donated by the amazing people of Malvern.”

Miss Brown was joined by fellow members of staff Maisie Scholes-Rice and Jordan Parry in collecting and distributing the items and the team will be going out again this weekend for another delivery.

To donate, take your coats, hats and scarves to the Costa branch in Church Street and leave them in the box by the door.

The appeal for donations came during the recent cold snap when the team at Costa got together and decided to do something to help rough sleepers in the town.

The decision came after two rough sleepers died in just a few weeks with Remigiusz Boczarski, who lived in the bus shelter in Wells Road, Malvern, and Joby Sparrey, whose body was found outside Brays department store in Malvern on Christmas Day.

Last week, The Malvern Gazette reported that the council was conducting a review into the circumstances surrounding Mr Sparrey’s death.

A spokesman for Malvern Hills District Council said: “We have referred the case regarding Joby Sparrey to the adult safeguarding board recommending that they undertake a safeguarding review.

“We have also arranged an expert panel next month to consider our response to rough sleeping issues in rural towns.”

Following the deaths, Malvern Hills District Council announced a new strategy to combat homelessness designed to target the causes of homelessness at a much earlier stage by improving access to housing and provide better assistance to those with complex needs.