ROUGH sleepers dined on pulled pork, brisket and Dover sole after Jamie Oliver donated food to a homeless charity.

The Essex celebrity chef donated produce intended for his show Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast, filmed on Southend Pier, to Southend homelessness charity Harp.

The charity, which was running low on supplies, made more than 400 meals from the donation which were handed out at its £2.3million Bradbury Centre, in York Road, and other specialist hostels and used in food parcels.

Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty wanted to support a local cause, having just finished filming their third series for Channel 4 in a former fish and chip shop at the end of Southend Pier.

Jamie, who claims to have been conceived on Southend Pier, said: “Jimmy and I have close connections to Southend, so we were keen to support such a worthy local cause.”

Celebrity farmer Jimmy added: “One of the big themes of the new series is food waste, so it’s fantastic the unused food from the series could be used to help people in need in Southend.”

When filming the show, which this year saw the likes of Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville and singer Ellie Goulding make an appearance on the pier, extra food is kept in reserve in case it is needed.

It is usually chucked away if it is not used, but this time producers got in touch with Harp’s catering manager to offer it to them.

Series executive producer Dermot Caulfield, from programme makers Fresh One Productions, said: “When you’re making a TV food series like Friday Night Feast you need extra food for contingencies, so you’re often left with perfectly good fresh unused food.

“We were keen to work with a local charity to make sure this lovely food went to a good home.”

Harp uses food parcels and meals at its 24-hour day and night centre to tempt in homeless people, who it then engages and helps to overcome underlying issues, such as substance abuse and mental health issues.

Catering manager Gordon Maxwell said: “We are so grateful to receive these donations.

They came at just the right time as our food stocks were running dangerously low.

“We have been able to provide over 400 meals over the past two weeks to many vulnerable people in Southend.”