A church breakfast programme for the homeless is to beef up security after a fight broke out on Saturday at its weekly gathering, a spokesman said yesterday.

David Thompson, of the “Loads of Love” programme at Christ Church in Warwick, said the organisation held discussions with the police, and he anticipates that they will have a presence at future breakfasts.

Mr Thompson said: “That will create some law and order around the place. I don’t think people will be anxious to get into things with police around.”

He was speaking after two men were taken by ambulance to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where they were treated for injuries which were not considered life-threatening.

A spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service said reports indicated both men were armed with bladed articles during the incident, which happened shortly before 9am.

The spokesman added: “One of the men involved, a 57-year-old, had a cut to his head.

“The other man, a 47-year-old, suffered a cut to the hand.”

Mr Thompson said he understood that the pair had been in another altercation earlier in the week.

He added: “Unfortunately, both are clients of ours, and they both showed up on Saturday. When they saw each other on Saturday, the altercation started again.”

Mr Thompson said the incident was “very disappointing”, adding: “It’s sad.”

He said the episode was the first of its type at the breakfast.

Mr Thompson added: “We have broken up a few skirmishes but nothing like a physical fight. Someone shouting, and we ask them to leave the premises, and tell them to come back when they’ve calmed down.”

The incident happened just days after the church appealed in The Royal Gazette for volunteers to help with another of its initiatives, a lunchtime feeding programme introduced to assist people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Thompson said: “So many people volunteered, we had a great response.”

He added: “I have spoken to all our volunteers, and reassured them that safety is a priority for our volunteers.”

The Loads of Love programme was launched eight years ago.

The church developed a building on its property, adding a laundry and a shower facility.

Each Saturday morning, the church welcomes members of the homeless community who are able to use the facilities.

They are also served breakfast on an outdoor patio.

Investigations continue and anyone with information is asked to call 211 or the main police number 295-0011.