FORMER hostage Terry Waite is encouraging businesses in Bolton to help the homeless.

The 6ft 7in former special envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury met businessmen, MPs and experts at the Reebok Stadium yesterday.

He was there to launch Emmaus Bolton, a scheme aimed at providing people living on the streets with work and shelter under one roof.

Mr Waite, a patron of the project, told leading figures in the town -- including Jonathan Warburton of the Warburton baking family -- that he could empathise with the homesless after being held hostage in a prison cell in Beirut for six years.

He said: "I know what it is like to be stripped of your dignity. It is hard to come back from something like that. You lose your self respect.

"Everyone should remember that it is an easy journey down to the streets -- but very difficult to get back up. Emmaus appreciates that."

Emmaus was set up in 1949 by French war hero Abbe Pierre to give a home, work, respect and friendship to the homeless.

There are seven in Britain, including one at Mossley, Greater Manchester. They are self-sufficient communities, with some achieving substantial yearly profits.

Mr Waite, who became involved in Emmaus soon after being released from Beirut in 1992, said: "Many homeless people can't settle down to normal life and I must admit it was difficult to get back into things myself after Beirut.

"But I had the support of a good family and friends and got a job as a writer so I could become involved again. But it takes time."

Roger Speare, chairman of the Bolton branch, said a suitable site had been found for an Emmaus community, but could not say where as it is subject planning permission.

Mr Speare, aged 59, who has run his own business while co-ordinating the Emmaus project for the past four years, said: "It is exciting to see it come to fruition.

"We are not there yet and are asking for support from the business community.

"We need skilled people to make up our trust board and could do with staff secondment."

Ian Hutson, a member of the Mossley community, said: "We get on very well with people living nearby. They seem to accept us.

"Emmaus doesn't provide all the answers to homelessness, but my life is certainly better."

Mr Waite said: "I would like to see an Emmaus community in every town in Britain.

"Towns have to offer a guarantee of support and Bolton is able to do just that. It has done very well and worked hard to get this far."