A High Wycombe laundrette is set to offer a free washing service to homeless people in the town.

The Laundry Room, in Desborough Road, is working with Wycombe Homeless Connection to offer the service to homeless people, after kind-hearted owner Qumar Aziz, 25, saw a man asking for money outside the laundrette so he could wash his clothes.

He said: “I wanted to give something back to the community. I have lived in High Wycombe all my life and I have always wanted to do something for the community.

“It has been in my head for the past two to three months. I had someone come to me last week and he was outside the shop asking for money.

“I invited him in and asked if he was ok – he said he needed money to wash his clothes and so I offered to do it for him for free.

“That’s what really got me going. He was standing outside for two or three hours and I felt so bad for him.”

Speaking about what his customers thought of the idea, he said the feedback had been “excellent” and they thought he should do it.

He added: “I thought if I can do something [to help] then why not?

“I’m encouraging other laundrettes in the area to do the same if they can.”

James Boultbee, operations manager at Wycombe Homeless Connection, said: “It’s difficult for people who are sleeping rough to keep their clothes clean, so we welcome this generous initiative.

“We will be working with The Laundry Room to make sure they are able to help the people who need it most.”

The initiative will start from March 1. Homeless people around the town can collect tokens from Wycombe Homeless Connection and take it to The Laundry Room to get a free wash.