Hardworking volunteers have been able to reopen a community lifeline after coronavirus caused it to close down.

Oor Wee Café, based in Kelty Community Centre, temporarily shut down for two weeks but much to the relief of the village is now back as a takeaway.

The team have been able to give hundreds of meals to locals and are also working closely with other volunteer groups, such as the homegrown food project set up and Kelty Community Let’s Get Together group, which have been set up to help the vulnerable and elderly.

Fife Council community manager, Sarah Roxburgh, said: "The café is currently being run by a team of staff and volunteers including Jim Stark, one of the centre’s caretakers, Linzi Forbes, welfare support assistant, Billy Inglis, an Oor Wee Cafe volunteer, Mary Brogan, community education worker, and Maura Haddow, a support teacher with St Joseph's Primary School.

"Last week 160 meals were distributed, along with the weekly grocery donations from FareShare, Co-op, Baynes, Tesco and Stephens, which is available for anyone needing some extra help.

"Every Monday the team come together to prepare a variety of meals, these have included pasta, chilli, soup, stovies etc. In addition to the main meals, thanks to local donations they have also been able to offer homemade cakes and puddings.

"Weekly donations and end-of-day food from a range of individuals, local businesses and from Fife Council is available for anyone needing some extra help."

She added: "The cafe has received further funding from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust and Kelty Community Council which has been a fantastic boost.

"This will help with continuing to provide this vital service and has been very much appreciated."

Oor Wee Cafe was set up back in 2018 by a group of volunteers from the local job club.

The café ran every Tuesday offering a tasty and affordable meal for local residents in Kelty and beyond.

Sarah added: "When the coronavirus first started most of the volunteers had to go into self-isolation for health reasons and this caused the cafe to close.

"But it has re-opened every Tuesday from 12-1.30pm, much to the relief of the local community, and will continue to operate as a takeaway, serving meals to those most in need.

"The loss of the cafe had a negative impact on the community, so a decision was made to adapt the offering in the current circumstances and it came back as a takeaway."