CHARITY bosses fear people in need of a hot meal will go hungry on Christmas Day after the sudden closure of the Govanhill Community Canteen.

The three-times weekly free cafe has been forced to shut without warning after the church housing it was deemed dangerous.

And organisers Community Renewal worry the vulnerable people they support will still show up on Christmas Day if word doesn't spread.

Marek Balog, who runs the Community Canteen with his wife Marianna, said: "We had a Christmas Day dinner planned.

"A lot of people who come along to the canteen have been trying to spread the word that it's closed but we are worried people will still turn up on the day and there will be a padlock on the door."

The Community Canteen has been running in Govanhill for the past two years, staffed by volunteers from the Roma community.

When the canteen is open it feeds 80 people three times a week - on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday - with a hot, home cooked three-course meal.

But the building housing the scheme, the Church of Scotland Daisy Street church hall, has developed an electrical fault and had to suddenly close.

Community Renewal bosses have been frantically trying to find a new venue but say Govanhill does not have many large event spaces, partly now Govanhill Baths has closed for refurbishment.

They have also had to give away all of their food as they had nowhere to store it.

Ann Hyde, of Community Renewal said they have had little communication from the church and so are unsure of when - or if - they might be allowed back in.

A spokeswoman for the Church of Scotland said she had been unable to contact the minister to provide any information tot he Evening Times.

Ann said: “We had to close the Community Canteen, we had no choice.

“We have a whole load of volunteers who make the food and they are devastated.

“The people who were coming for their meals will now have to use food banks, putting pressure on other resources in the area, when the point of the Community Canteen is to divert people away from foodbanks.

“There are not enough venues in Govanhill. People seem to think there is a lot of space but there is very little.

“At this time of year it is particularly difficult."

The charity said it had recently signed a contract with the Church of Scotland, which gave assurances the building was in good condition.

Marek added: "It is really difficult when you see some kids coming by themselves and queueing up well before we are open.

"These kids may have dinner at school and then come here three nights a week but aren't eating very much else.

"We always put extra food like bread and yoghurt out for them to take.

"It will have a big impact, the fact we are not there."

As well as feeding those who need it, the Community Canteen acts as a social space so not all people who come along are in need of food.

There are arts and crafts activities for children, laid on by three Shawlands Academy teenagers who are among the volunteers who help out in the canteen.

Their teacher, Victoria Blair Gardner, said they were devastated to learn it had closed.

In response, the trio set about fund raising for the Community Canteen and have raised £70 so far with the school pledging to help support more fundraising in the New Year.