A SWEDISH takeaway in Newport has a lot to offer hungry customers with giant sandwiches up to 60 cms (23 inches) long and is giving free coffee to the homeless.

The Taste of Sweden is run by Swedish owner, Janne Kristensson, who moved to Newport with his family to offer Wales Swedish food.

Mr Kristensson who previously worked at a Chinese restaurant and at McDonalds, always wanted to open a Swedish takeaway to offer customers food with more flavour.

Mr Kristensson, 41, who was originally from South Korea, was adopted by Swedish parents and moved to Sweden as a child, now runs the takeaway with his wife, 38-year-old Lisse Kristensson.

"We have friends over here, I was working 15 hours a day in Sweden and we just thought we would move and try opening our business here," he said.

The business on Upper Dock Street, is believed by Mr Kristensson to be the only Swedish takeaway in Newport, offering the customer a range of food from Swedish chocolate balls to a huge sandwich called the Battleship.

The cafe also takes part in the word-of-mouth Swedish concept, 'suspended coffee'. The idea is that a customer pays an extra £1 and pays for a homeless person to have a coffee.

Mr Kristensson said: "We are trying to provide something for Newport."

The takeaway also gives free coffee to builders and drivers in Newport.

He added: "The problem is people don't think to try us, but once they get the guts to try it they come back.

"It's important to us to order from local suppliers such as John's Butchers in Newport High Street and bread from Bettws Bakers so it is as fresh as possible."

"We are open to combining foods so that the customer can order anything they like. We do a variety of foods such from making our own hamburgers to meatballs with sauces. We have people coming in two times a week and they all say the Welsh word 'Lush.'"