THOUSANDS of meals, drinks and pieces of clothing have been given out to Blackburn's homeless community this winter.

Community Spirit has completed its last nightly feed of the winter this month after trooping Blackburn town centre's streets 118 times since the start of the cold weather.

The volunteers seek out the homeless and provide them with food, blankets, sleeping bags, toiletry items and anything else which can support them.

Over the winter the charity has handed out 2,600 meals, 1540 breakfast packs, 3,900 hot drinks, 110 sleeping bags, 44 mats and 10 tents.

A handful of volunteers step into the dark, regardless of the plummeting temperatures and bad weather conditions, every night to check on the vulnerable on our streets.

Neil Mistry, co-founder and chairman of Community Spirit, said: "We are delighted that we have been able to help so many people who are hungry in our town.

"This winter the number of street homeless has been at a record high with up to 25 people some nights.

"This is almost unheard of in a town the size of Blackburn.

“I want to say a big thank you to our team of wonderful volunteers, along with local businesses and individuals who donate food, meals, clothing and cash that enables us to continue helping those who find themselves street homeless and unable to afford even the basics for day to day living."

Some 597 people sleeping rough or in emergency accommodation were estimated to have died last year in England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics revealed.

This represents a 24 per cent leap from 482 in 2013, according to the department’s first research of its kind.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph last year, when reporter Neil Athey spent an evening delivering food and supplies with the charity, Debbie Miller who volunteers with her daughter, Katie, said: "It's quite startling how many people from all walks of life we meet.

"We've had company directors, people struggling for work, those with addictions and mental health issues.

"Anyone can end up on the street and we can help them so we try to do what we can.

"Neil and the other volunteers have been known to wake up at night worrying about someone if they haven't seen them in a few days."

Mr Mistry, a financial advisor, said: "It's something we like to do and we feel its an incredibly important role we have.

"If we don't do this, what happens to these people?"

IN NUMBERS: A breakdown of Community Spirits 118-day volunteering stint.

The number of visits: 2,596 - with an average of 22 a night

2595 miles covered in the charities car

2.600 meals including dessert

1,540 breakfast packs

3,900 hot drinks

110 sleeping bags

45 mats

10 tents

2,500 pairs of socks

750 pairs of gloves

300 hats

25 winter survival packs

100 sets of thermals

2,500 hand/feet warmers

50 torches

65 fleeces

50 coats

150 foil blankets

Several pairs of joggers, trainers, along with sweatshirts have also been handed out but the exact number is unknown.