A NIGHT shelter has been putting a roof over the heads of 10 or 11 homeless people a night since it started at the beginning of this month.

The shelter, which is run from the Maggs Day Centre, Worcester, has also been able to offer its visitors a warm place to stay and a hot shower thanks to a city firm.

Worcester Bosch donated a boiler to the centre after staff heard its previous system was beyond repair. Acting manager Sue Leach said: "We didn't have heating for six or eight months and they gave us a boiler. We got it installed just before Christmas in time for the night shelter.

"We survived during the summer because it's an old building and gets very warm but equally in winter because it's such an old building it gets absolutely freezing cold.

"At least people can have a wash with hot water, it's the basics really. We want to say a big thank you to Bosch."

Mrs Leach said the night assessment centre, which can accommodate up to 15 rough sleepers for 10 weeks during the coldest winter months, was not full and there were currently fewer visitors booked in than usual.

She said: "We've had a number of referrals from out of the area but they haven't arrived. In previous years, we've had referrals from as far as Liverpool."

We previously reported how the shelter would be going ahead as usual at the Deansway centre after Worcester City Council had appealed for a new venue.