A MOTHER and daughter team are leading a fight to help homeless people and highlight an issue which is becoming an increasing problem.

Denise Kelly, her daughter Shauni and friend Sarah Brown go out across St Helens three times a week to provide food and blankets for people living rough. The long term plan is to set up a charity named Teardrops and a shelter in St Helens.

Denise, 47, from Thatto Heath said they want to encourage a unified effort to tackle homelessness. The idea came about after Denise and Shauni, 24, saw a man sleeping rough outside the new McDonalds in the town centre. She said: "It upset her and she wanted to do something about it. I said I'd help. I have worked in the charity field so now how it works."

People would be able to stay at the shelter initially for two to three days but this could be extended if they agree to attend a specially tailored course.

Denise said they are in contact with at least 19 people on the streets: "Last year there were 42 in Manchester and that is a city. This year it's 72. So 19 is a lot so there is a problem. They are not all sleeping on the streets.

"One sleeps under a skateboard park and another sleeps in a tent in a park."

Denise said people on the streets could be fleeing domestic violence or may have been recently released from prison.

The Star recently reported on a rise in the number of people reporting "aggressive begging" in the town centre. Denise said: "I'm not saying some don't sit there because they need money. But you can't get into the YM or Salvation Army without some sort of income.

"Begging is illegal. But the ones I deal with just sit there and a lot of people do offer them food."

"The system at the moment sets them up for failure," she stressed. "They have accommodation for two to three nights but then they are left on their own. We are offering a different service because we would help them over the next 12 months.

"We would help address their problems through services such as Addaction and counselling and help them find a place and get funding to provide things like a kettle and microwave."

Next Monday Denise will be staging an awareness day for the homeless in St Mary's Market and has invited the mayor and mayoress along with several businesses. Denise added: "Now we are appealing for all types of donations from sleeping bags, bedding, clothing and toiletries."

Anyone wishing to donate can drop them off at JC's Gym on Jackson Street. For further information contact Denise via email on kelly.denise0@gmail.com.