A GALWAY man who has opened a “soup kitchen” in the city says his only motive is to return favours paid to him when he was down on his luck in London.

Oliver Williams, from Clogherboy near Abbeyknockmoy, says that it was a similar kitchen in Soho that sustained him when he arrived at the age of 15.

Now 45, Mr Williams worked in the motor trade and says he qualified as a pilot, but has been affected by a downturn in demand for helicopter transport.

Earlier this month he moved his “Hot Diggity Dog” mobile food unit into a vacant garage close to Galway docks – venue for the Volvo Ocean Race finish from June 30th.

Mr Williams has named his outlet Twist, after the Dickens character, and has been serving hot meals and offering tea and coffee to those who need it.

The premises was provided by a colleague, Mike Reilly, and Mr Williams says he has received no other direct funding for the project. Food has been provided free of charge by local businesses.