TROWBRIDGE'S only drop in centre for the homeless is still closed.

Breakthrough has been closed since lockdown began, and says it is in the hands of the Salvation Army to decide when it will reopen.

The drop in centre hires the hall from the Salvation Army on Castle Street on Mondays and Tuesdays, and volunteers are on hand to help homeless people with a cuppa and a chat, and to provide any information if needed.

But Rev Barrie Dearlove, who has run the centre with his wife, Rev Dorothy Dearlove for six years says even if the doors are unlocked, it will be tricky.

"We have up to 40 people come in when we are open," he said. "Even with the social distancing of two metres, this will be very hard to manage.

"Our homeless people come in and sit at the tables, and we serve tea and coffee from an urn that you push the top down on, but under new rulings, we would need to serve people. I'm not sure how we could make that work."

He said some of the Trowbridge homeless had been given shelter in Salisbury and Amesbury, and said one of the main difficulties was trying to contact homeless people to ask after their welfare.

"They don't tend to have phones, so usually the way we communicate is by leaving a notice at the hall."

Around 13 churches in and around Trowbridge provide financial and volunteer support for the drop in centre, but Barrie says they need more space.

"We would really like to hear from property owners if they have affordable space in the town centre. We would like to be able to offer so much more help to homeless people."