In spite of snow and sub-zero temperatures, Bradford Soup Run’s Christmas dinner will take place on Christmas Eve.

The charity, which has been offering hot food and warm clothing to the homeless for 26 years, had 140 people to dinner last year.

“We will be preparing to serve about the same number on Friday,” said Soup Run founder and director John Tempest.

“We’ve had bad weather before and it’s never stopped us. We will start prepping the food on Thursday. Probably not much sleep will be had on Thursday night,” he added.

Seven people will be at work at The Pavilion in Bradford city centre helping to serve a menu of fruit juice – a cocktail or orange, mango and vitamin supplement; vegetable soup with soft white rolls; chicken supreme; strawberry gateaux and cream Christmas cake and Wensleydale Cheese; tea/coffee and biscuits and after dinner mints.

While the food and drink bring much-needed comfort and joy to people living on the street, Mr Tempest also looks after longer-term needs, giving out sleeping bags, duvets, blankets, bedding and clothing.

He needs good quality shirts, trousers, topcoats, anoraks, woollen socks and footwear, but not jackets, ties or underwear.

He said: “Underwear is bought new. We do not meet many homeless women, so have little use for women’s clothing.

“It costs over £500 a week to keep feeding the homeless. If anyone would like to make a donation after Christmas would they please send it to the Soup Run office at Unit 4, Newcastle House, Barkerend Road, Bradford BD1 4AP.”

Eleven hundred Soup Run Christmas cards have been sent out or delivered personally. Traditionally, the cover image has been donated by a famous photographer or illustrator, among them David Bailey, Patrick Litchfield, Eamonn McCabe, Steve Bell, Ralph Steadman and Trevor Griffiths.

This year’s image of gloved hands in fingerless mittens is by 20-year-old Shelf photographer Jessica Evans, a graduate of Bradford College and a pupil of Trevor Griffiths.