A GROUP of travellers have won praise from a homelessness campaigner - for helping out at an outreach street kitchen.

Caravans parked on the car park opposite Blackburn Community Fire Station, in Byrom Street, were served with a notice to leave by Blackburn with Darwen Council on Wednesday.

But despite being told to leave before Help the Homeless set up their food stalls, the traveller families stayed and their children helped tidy up after the event.

Organiser Wes Hall said it was 'a pleasure' to be given a helping hand by the travellers, who have now moved on.

Help the Homeless, a project which started in Burnley, sees volunteers hand out meals and drinks to people living on the streets in Blackburn every Wednesday.

Mr Hall, 32, said: "We were told that some travellers had set up camp on the car park we use on a Wednesday in Blackburn and weren't too sure what reception we'd get when we arrived with hi-viz jackets on, but the people staying there really nice.

"I genuinely have a serious soft-spot for the travelling community and would love to live like them without having to worry about the mundane 'day to day' lifestyle.

"So many people give travellers a bad name and I just want to say that they were really polite and it was a pleasure to speak to them about their evictions and experiences with councils and courts. The children even helped us clean up."

Council officers attended the site on Tuesday afternoon and issued a 24-hour notice to the travellers, who first pitched up on the car park on April 2.

A Lancashire police spokeswoman said there were no reports of anti-social behaviour during their stay.

Mr Hall, who was once homeless himself, added that more volunteers and businesses were needed to assist Help the Homeless.

He said: "The number of people actually using our outreach service is increasing rapidly. Whether you're an employer, landlord, catering company or an altruistic soul just wanting to help people - get involved."