Mercy mission to help homeless in storms

Thoughtful Liam Canning and Georgia Donlan gave their own blankets, pillows, food and hot drinks on a mercy mission in the wind and rain during last week’s storms.

The couple had been at home in Nelson watching the news and weather reports when Liam (23) decided he wanted to do something.

Not knowing where to go, they put out an appeal on Facebook’s Burnley Buy and Sell page asking where homeless people tended to sleep locally – and then set out in their car to help.

Former Primet High pupil Liam said: “I was looking at the Met Office Red warning for storms on Wednesday evening and thought how terrible it must be for people living out on the streets.

“It was really wet and windy and it made me realise how lucky we are to be warm and dry.

“Georgia agreed and we both wanted to help make them a bit more comfortable. People on Facebook posted about half a dozen locations where they thought homeless people would be sleeping. There were none in Nelson but we found four people in Burnley.

“At first they were a bit worried about who we were, but once we had a chat they were really grateful.”

On Wednesday, Georgia (20) stayed at home with the couple’s six-month old baby Lillie, while Liam went out with his friend, Paul Ormerod.

They took a flask of coffee and cups, sandwiches and bedding.

Georgia went out the following evening with family and friends.

Liam, a marquee erector, said: “All of the people we found were really overwhelmed.

“In one area we found a bin bag with a cardboard mattress. There was no-one there so we left some food and blankets. I hope it was a nice surprise. We’ve had lots of messages from people on Facebook saying they’d like to help, which is brilliant.”