WHEN an idea takes off on social media and it captures the public’s imagination, there really is no stopping it.

Examples on an international scale saw millions of people drenched in ice cold water last year, all in the name of charity.

But locally, social media can have just as much of an impact, as demonstrated by the East Lancashire Help the Homeless project.

A single Facebook post last winter inspired dozens of strangers to brave horrendous weather to join Nelson man Liam Canning in handing out food to those in need.

And what has followed on from that cold night has been quite remarkable.

There were immediately calls for similar groups to be set up across East Lancashire and volunteers have given up night after night to man mobile soup kitchens and help points.

From one man’s concerns about the homeless on a cold evening, the project has snow-balled into a county-wide project which is making moves to become a registered charity.

And it has even been donated a new base so homeless people can enjoy not only hot food but a raft of support and training to get back on track.

It’s proof, if any were needed, that community spirit is definitely alive and well here in East Lancashire.