Aston Villa are donating food that had been prepared for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea to homeless charities.

The club made the announcement after all Premier League matches were called off until April 4 because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Villa said 850 staff packed lunches and hot food would be given away and asked for organisations who wished to receive the food to contact the club.

An update from the Aston Villa Foundation later read: “We are pleased to say that all of the food has now been allocated to a number of homeless charities and housing shelters. Thank you Twitter for ensuring this food doesn’t go to waste and it is going to those who will really benefit.”

Villa have had two matches postponed, with the trip to Newcastle that had been scheduled for March 21 also called off.

Brighton later announced food originally purchased for the hospitality lounges and retail kiosks for Saturday’s postponed match against Arsenal would be donated to the city’s homeless community.

The move comes after Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas called on communities not to forget food banks and homeless charities during the coronavirus crisis, instead of panic buying.

The club has donated all surplus fresh fruit and vegetables, diary products and sandwiches to Sussex Homeless Support, which will be used to help provide food across various night shelters as well as soup kitchens in and around the Brighton and Hove area.