CHICKEN shortages which led to the closure of fast-food restaurants has seen an unexpected surge in local cafés.

The Barrow branch of the Salvation Army welcomed visitors to their packed-out Foyer Café over the weekend.

They credit the sudden rush on the centre with the four-day closure of the town's KFC restaurant in the Hollywood Retail Park, with independent cafés in the town benefiting from the extra demand.

Lt Martin Davison, leader of the branch on Abbey Road, said: "These last few days have seen our lunchtime trade really increase.

"Apart from our annual Christmas lunch rush, this has been the busiest back-to-back few days of my five years here in the town.

"I think some of this increase is due to customers needing to look elsewhere from their usual choice because of the necessity of trade cascading down from KFC to other outlets."

The Salvation Army cafe is largely staffed by volunteers from the community, with Lt Davison thanking them and staff cook Glen Wyatt for coping with the rush.

He said: "We have tried to make everyone welcome and I am indebted to our volunteers for providing good hospitality in these very busy days.

"We have received some favourable comments and who knows, when the issues settle down some folk may decide to stay with us and the other independent cafés they have visited during this period."

The money raised in the café will go towards supporting the charity's goal of being a community hub in the heart of the town.

KFC reopened on Wednesday after "teething problems" with a new delivery partner meant many stores around the country were forced to close.