Owners of a popular fish and chip shop company are planning to donate hundreds of meals to those in need.

Codfathers is opening a third branch in Lynch Road at Lanehouse - formerly Alf's - on Friday, October 4, and to mark the occasion it will be generously giving away 300 sausage and chip meals to the homeless and Weymouth and Portland food banks. 

Paul and Donna Merry already have two shops in the area - on Buxton Road in Weymouth and another on Weston Road on Portland.

These two shops have already donated 200 meals as part of the business' heart-warming scheme which allows customers to donate food vouchers.

Laura, volunteer, collecting meals from Codfathers to be donated to the homeless and food banksLaura, volunteer, collecting meals from Codfathers to be donated to the homeless and food banks (Image: Codfathers) When a customer is paying at the counter of any Codfathers store, or over the phone, they can ask to add a voucher to the scheme.

Each voucher equates to a portion of sausage and chips for the local food banks and now Weymouth Help the Homeless.

READ: Weymouth fish and chip shop's amazing scheme feeds homeless

Paul said: "We started giving to food banks ten years ago at our Portland shop and have donated 200 meals ourselves already. 

"This time around we are officially adding the homeless of Weymouth to our scheme.

"It helps everyone out and it gives back to the community.

"This new shop gives us a new platform and we hope to keep getting donations from our customers."

20 sausage and chips being prepared for the homeless and food banks in Weymouth and Portland20 sausage and chips being prepared for the homeless and food banks in Weymouth and Portland (Image: Codfathers) On top of the 500 meals that have been donated by Codfathers over the years, the scheme has seen customers donate an extra 500 meals - meaning that 1,000 hot meals have been donated to those most in need.

Paul was first inspired to start the scheme when he saw a woman he knew struggling to afford food, despite working full time. 

He added: "When I was at our Portland shop, I saw a woman I went to school with who worked at the hospital.

"People think it's the down and outs, but she worked 12 hour shifts and I thought I could help out and since then we have done it."

To help promote the launch of their new store, and the food voucher scheme, Codfathers is offering a buy one get one free deal where customers can get two hake and chips for the price of one on the opening night.

Customers will simply need to present a coupon from Friday's edition of the Dorset Echo.

The shop will be open from 4.30pm until 9pm.