The head of the Coventry Jesus Centre has launched an appeal for second-hand clothes.

More than 2,600 people in need have visited the centre - known as the Bridge Drop-in - since it opened in April, 2002.

Manager Piers Young said an average of 50 people sleep rough on the streets of Coventry every night.

He said: "Half the people that come here are homeless, and what we try to do is meet their basic needs. We give out 2,000 lots of clothes annually, but we rely entirely upon donations. It's very hard to have self-respect if you have no clothes, and it's especially important for people to have good clothes during what could be a freezing winter.

"Many visitors only have the clothes they are standing in, and one guy came wearing a paper suit, after being released by the police who had taken his clothes for forensic investigation."

The drop-in supplies free tea and coffee, subsidised breakfast at 50p, budget laundry service, toiletries and showers, and a free internet service. To donate clothes, call the centre on 024 7655 0033 or take them to 7 Lamb Street, city centre

Source: The Coventry Evening Telegraph