Feeding of 5000 students in Clifton, Bristol at Woodlands Church

The feeding of 5000 students is taking place in Bristol this week...

Instead of loaves and fish though burgers are the order of the day – as Woodlands Church, in Clifton, is holding its annual Freshers' Week Special where they expect to give away about 5000 to hungry students.

The free barbeque is every lunchtime this week (12.30pm to 2.30pm) and the church will be open all day each day with chill out zones, live entertainment, jazz, bands, games and lots more food.

Student worker at the church, Martin Riddall, said: "As a student it's just nice to be welcomed and to be made feel welcome.

"It can be very daunting coming away from home for the first time – trying to find your way around the city,  working out where to buy food and where your lectures are - so we don't know what else to do other than open the church up and make it as welcoming as we can."

Woodland's Church has been holding a free Freshers' Week barbeque for a number a years now, so much so that among students they've become known as the "burger church".

Today was no exception with 1000 burgers being consumed by hoards of hungry students passing through Woodlands Road and Belgrave Road.

"With the road being closed off by the council and all the bunting about – there was a real party atmosphere yesterday," said Mr Riddall.

"And the students are really, really thankful and, of course, full up,"