The centre offers hot meals

The Breadline centre and cafe in Penzance is now to close at 1400, rather than 1630.

The changes come as tension increases in Penzance over the behaviour of some vagrants and homeless people.

As well as hot meals, the centre offers information to homeless and jobless people in the area.

Manager Dave Lawson, said: "It's a lack of funding really.

"We were also getting to a point where people were just sitting around all day.

"But Breadline is about helping people to move on."

'Dross and undesirables'

There would be a review later this month when the impact on clients and fund-raising would be assessed.

The issue of homeless people and drinking on the streets was raised at the reopening of the Penzance passenger interchange at the train station.

Penwith District Council chairman Malcolm Pilcher spoke of keeping drunken "dross and undesirables" off platforms and public benches.

He now says that the comments were taken out of context.

He said: "I started by saying that the people who need help should have been helped.

"We must do everything we can for them.

"The ones I am talking about are living on the backs of the genuine people in need."