AN Indian restaurant in Belbroughton is adopting the spirit of giving this festive period - by pledging to donate a free meal to the homeless for EVERY takeaway order placed with them.

Five Spice Restaurant, on Stourbridge Road, hope their 'Eat In To Help Others' initiative encourages other eateries across the country to do something similar.

The eatery will keep track of each takeaway order it receives and will cook up the same number of main meals before delivering them to homeless shelters each weekend for the next three months.

Sadiq Miah, who manages the restaurant said: "We are aware that in these difficult times, so many people are really struggling and becoming homeless and we just want to try and do our little bit to help.

"So ‘Eat In To Help Others’ is our version of ‘Eat Out to Help Out’. Our goal is to encourage other restaurants across the UK to do the same.

"We will be delivering meals to homeless shelters within a 10-mile radius from us every Sunday, so please help us to help others!”

Five Spice, which began its charity quest last weekend, has, like all restaurants across the country, been closed to sit-in customers since early November due to the second coronavirus national lockdown.

However, again like all eateries, the award-winning restaurant is allowed to remain open as a delivery service.

Even though the restaurant will be allowed to reopen fully on December 2, Five Spice says its offer of free meals for the homeless with every takeaway order placed will continue until February 2021.

Orders can be placed at www.fivespiceonline.co.uk or by calling 01562 730499.

It is not the first time during the pandemic that Mr Miah and his staff have displayed such generosity.

The Advertiser reported back in March that Five Spice was offering free meals to elderly people who were self-isolating during the first wave of the pandemic.

The restaurant provided a starter, main course and rice to people who were eligible for the offer.