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A Leicester cafe has launched a scheme to help provide free food and drink to people in need in the city.

Vegan cafe Healthy Louisa, in Belgrave Gate, has signed up to the international 'Suspended Coffees' movement, which began in 2013.

It works thanks to the generosity of customers, who buy a coffee for themselves, and pay for another 'suspended' coffee, which the cafe can then give to someone in need.

According to the movement's website, it aims to "bring communities together in hope, to inspire and empower people to change lives, and to restore faith in humanity".

(Image: Healthy Louisa)

It is based on an old Italian tradition, called Cafe Sospeso, where someone who had experienced good luck would order a sospeso, paying the price of two coffees but only receiving one.

Healthy Louisa has gone one step further. In addition to offering the suspended coffees, owners Luiza Cwikla and Patryk Sikorski have decided to offer suspended meals as well.

"A lot of people struggle with money but want to eat healthy food. We want to help them to do that," Luiza told LeicestershireLive.

"There are a lot of generous people who want to help, and want to buy something for someone else. It's becoming very popular with our customers."

Patryk added: "The free drinks and meals are for people who need it, whatever the reason.

"We want people to feel comfortable coming in and making use of it.

"Sometimes, that one cup of coffee can really make your day."

There is a board on the wall of the cafe, where receipts for suspended drinks and meals are placed. People in need can simply go into the cafe and take one of the receipts to the counter to receive the free food or drink.

Healthy Louisa opened at the start of the year, serving a menu of plant-based food, all of which is free from refined sugar.

Customers can enjoy breakfast, lunch, cakes and coffee.

(Image: Matt Short / Matt Short Photogra)

Breakfast offerings include creamy porridge, granola bowls, as well as toast with toppings such as homemade tomato beans, or toast with homemade cashew butter and banana.

At lunchtime, you can enjoy the likes of creamy curry chickpeas, vegetable duck, or tomato pasta with vegetable chicken - all served with fresh salad and rice or giant cous cous.

Homemade cakes include fruit crumble cake and chickpea brownies.

Coffee is made with plant-based milk, served with coconut sugar, stevia or xylitol, and there are also around 14 different kinds of tea available.

Healthy Louisa is at 63 Belgrave Gate.