THE opening of a new branch of a homeless centre in Malvern has been postponed due to coronavirus fears.

The Malvern branch of Maggs Day Centre was due to be opened this week, but this has been postponed due to continued worry around the virus.

On Facebook, a Maggs spokesman said: "Unfortunately we have had to postpone our grand opening event at Maggs Day Centre Malvern due to take place on Friday.

"This is to keep in line with current government advice. Thanks to our fantastic staff and volunteers we remain open as usual for our service users. Extra hygiene measures are in place."

The branch of Maggs in Malvern was opened following the tragic deaths of two homeless men in the town. Joby Sparrey and Remigiusz Boczarski both died while sleeping rough in different locations.

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Mr Sparrey was found dead in the doorway of Brays on Christmas Day, 2018 while Mr Boczarski was found dead in a bus shelter the same year.

The centre was proposed by Malvern Cares, a group of Malvern charities, residents and councillors including the Malvern Hills Foodbank, Churches Together in Malvern, the Salvation Army and Lyttelton Well.

These groups came together in response to the increasing numbers of people struggling with problems of homelessness.

At the end of 2018, Malvern Hills District Council voted unanimously in favour of adopting a new homelessness strategy in Malvern as part of the Worcestershire Strategic Direction for Tackling Homelessness 2018 -2021.

The decision came after they heard that the number of rough sleepers in Worcester had risen from 12 to 24 causing fears there could be a similar increase in Malvern if no action is taken.