A YOUNG woman who hadn't eaten in two days is thanking the community after posting a plea for help online and receiving a hot meal and a week’s worth of shopping just 20 minutes later.

The 20-year-old from Gillars Green, who wants to remain anonymous, said she was without money after confusion with a universal credit payment which left her with 1p for the entire month.

While this was being sorted, the Job Centre gave her a food bank voucher, but due to the time she had missed it and had not eaten in two days.

Feeling lonely and helpless, she took to Facebook and posted on a page called Changing Lives on Our Doorstep aimed at helping people across St Helens.

After the post, more than a hundred people got in touch with offers of help, and within 20 minutes the young woman had a hot meal delivered to her home and a weeks worth of shopping and donations - meaning she didn't need to to go to the foodbank after all.

Speaking to the Star she said: "I'm only just starting to apply for jobs as I wasn't able to due to mental health issues and was receiving Universal Credit.

"Due to a mix up I didn't get any money - actually I did I got just 1p - so I hadn't eaten in two days.

"I have people in my life that can help me usually but my mum has just got out of hospital and I felt embarrassed but I was absolutely starving

"I got in touch with the admin on the group and they set up an urgent apeal for some food and within five minutes of posting there was immediate offers of people wishing to donate.

"This level of kindness to someone they did not know at all has left me completely gobsmacked, I've never needed help like this before, but they made me feel OK to ask.

"It has restored my faith in people because no questions were asked, I needed help and St Helens answered in a time of crisis. I'm so proud that this is my home.

"I just want to say thank you."