HOMELESS people were given clothes, food, haircuts and showers in Bolton tonight.

Downtown Bar in Bradshawgate opened its doors to people in need after a local builder came up with the idea.

Andrew Bowling, aged 30 who works for Kier building firm, posted the idea on Facebook and was soon inundated with donations and volunteers.

More than 20 chicken dinners were served and piles of clothes, toiletries, food, sleeping bags and tents were all donated for people to take away with them, many who will be sleeping on the streets tonight.

Breightmet resident Paul Hornby donated clothes and 15 sleeping bags to the cause, one which Niall Hampton, aged 20, took away.

He said: “I’ve been in the same clothes for a couple of months now so I’ve been able to get new clothes and have some decent scran.

"I will be sleeping in a car park tonight.

“I am really thankful to everyone here, I really am.”

Father-of-one, Michael Hoyles, aged 35, of no fixed address said: “I think it is great, it’s fantastic.

“On top of the clothes and food, it’s the social element as well because you are all here together and you realise that you aren’t on your own.”

Organiser and father-of-three Mr Bowling, from Breightmet, said: “My dad used to be homeless and I was walking to work and saw these three people sleeping in the doorways and it just hit home.

“The response we have had is amazing.”

Throughout the evening the homeless were offered a hair cut by Scott Patel, of Scott’s Barbers in Horwich, and had use of the showers on Kier building site and enjoyed hot food and drinks.

Volunteers from Hope for Homeless were also on hand to give advice to people.

Downtown Bar owner Steve Hoyle said: “In this day and age, how do we have homeless people in Bolton?

“Seeing the people come in here tonight, sifting through things, it’s like Christmas to them.

“And they have been really nice, polite people - it has been a real eye opener.”

UKIP councillor Sean Hornby said the council should be doing more to help homeless people.

He said: “We have several buildings in Bolton in the town centre that are empty and we should consider using them for something like this.

“It’s quite moving because it could quite easily be anyone of us."

Following the session, Downtown will be hosting a Christmas meal for the homeless and charity shop Breaking Barriers have agreed to provide hot drinks on a regular basis to those in need.