AYR'S first 'social' restaurant could be up and running next spring in a bid to challenge hunger and food poverty.

Unity Grill, set up by South Ayrshire Common Weal member Angela McNay, is on a mission to provide a welcome table, delicious food and community spirited sharing with 100 per cent of profits being used to challenge hunger and food poverty.

Members of the public will be able to come for a meal but if they cannot afford the prices they will be able to volunteer for an hour and be given a food voucher for Unity Grill at the end.

Unity Grill is being supported by Voluntary Action South Ayrshire (VASA) and will be a social entrepreneur scheme.

Angela has set up a a Crowdfunding account in a bid to raise £5000 to support the project and has already raised £1,900 of her target which has to be met by January 8, 2017.

Speaking about her idea Angela said: "I have had the idea for quite a long time. The idea is that people will be able to come an volunteer their time, be given a voucher and come back whenever they want to get something to eat.

"We have three of the richest areas in Scotland but we also have three of the poorest. 18,000 men, women and children will go to bed hungry in South Ayrshire alone. That is mind blowing to me.

"The aim is to make a difference, provide real comfort food and reduce social exclusion. We want people to sit together and speak to one another so that people don't have to sit by themselves."

Angela volunteers at the South Ayrshire Foodbank, which gave out 4200 emergency parcels from January 1, 2016 - November 30, 2016, 1159 of those were children.

The exact location of Unity Grill still remains a secret in the meantime but will be very central in Ayr.