ARMY veterans who set up a street kitchen to feed the homeless in a town centre park were turfed out by council officials.

The Barnsley Branch of the Yorkshire Regiment Association, in conjunction with the Yorkshire Volunteers Association Penistone Branch, had been serving up hot food to the needy from the the Peace Gardens, on Churchfields opposite the police station.

They managed to feed about 30 people before they were approached by council officers who ordered them to pack up and go saying they weren’t allowed to be there.

Tony Simpson, a former member of the Territorial Army, who helped set up the street kitchen, is furious at what happened.

He told the Chronicle: “These council officials turned up and said to us ‘this is a public garden’ and that we couldn’t use it and the lads sort of said back to them ‘we are the public’ and that we were just feeding people. They said we had no food hygiene certificates and this and that.

“More or less 30 people had been fed when they said to pack up and leave the park.

“We are totally disgusted.”

The Chronicle contacted the council to ask why the veterans and volunteers had been told to go.

A council spokeswoman said: “We understand that permission for the use of land was not sought in advance, and we will be working with the group to discuss the support that they wish to provide.”

More on this story in this week’s town edition.