HANDING out cups of soup to passersby was John Tait's way of saying thank-you.

For years, the 28-year-old was homeless and relied on Derby's soup kitchens for food.

But he was on the other side of the table last night, giving out refreshments to the public outside Derby Cathedral in the city's first "reverse soup run" event.

John, who six months ago moved into a flat in London Road, said: "I want to give something back to the people of Derby.

"They helped me out while I was homeless so this is my way of saying thank-you.

"I also think that a reverse soup run shows people what homeless people go through."

The event was organised by charity Derventio Housing Trust to raise awareness of its Have a Heart for Homelessness Appeal, for which donations were being taken at the same time as soup was being dished out.

It was the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Rev Dr Alastair Redfern, who came up with the idea.

Dr Redfern, who is patron of Derventio, said: "In a sense, homelessness in Derby is invisible to some people and we need to raise more awareness of it. Doing a soup run outside Derby Cathedral is one way of making it less invisible and to encourage people to help."

The soup and hot drinks were served by people who use the charity's activities centre Base33, in Boyer Street.

The free soup was available to everyone.

Among the people who stopped at the stall were friends Cathy Alton, 32, and Katy Ridgeway, 30.

Cathy, of Allestree Street, Alvaston, said she had never heard of a reverse soup run before.

She said: "I think it's a really good idea."

And Katy, of Seagrave Close, Oakwood, said: "There are people who think the homeless are drug addicts or alcoholics so to see former homeless people helping the community will hopefully get across that they aren't all like that."

John Baker was another who got some soup and a cup of tea.

The 45-year-old, who is currently homeless, said: "I was just walking past when I saw a sign saying there was free soup.

"It is a good idea and it is all for charity."

Rehanne Burton, 25, was one of the volunteers.

A year ago, she found herself homeless having fallen out with her family. She now lives in a house in Brighton Road, Alvaston.

She said she hoped the event would raise awareness of homelessness in the city.

She said: "When I was homeless, the soup kitchens in Derby were a lifeline.

"They were scary but I know how people feel when they go to one.

"Through working with Derventio, I get to talk to different sorts of people and I've made new friends as well."

Jackie Carpenter, strategic development manager at Derventio, said: "We hope that the event showed that, given the right opportunities, homeless people can succeed."