HOMELESS people will be able to take cover from the elements thanks to generous Worcester News readers who have raised a massive £10,000 for a city night shelter.

The 15-bed facility - at the Maggs Day Centre in Deansway - officially flings its doors open tonight. Users will be fed and clothed and their needs assessed, with three staff on duty all night.

The project was boosted by the Worcester News' Give Them Shelter campaign in support of the Maggs Day Centre, with more than 300 donations in just two weeks raising a massive £10,000.

The night shelter, which is due to run until Sunday, March 19, will remain open until 7am each day, before day staff take over at 7.30am.

And the shelter was actually able to open earlier than planned after Worcester City Council donated additional funding to the scheme because harsh weather conditions were predicted.

Project worker Sharon Van Antwerpen said they had had up to 11 people in so far and that it was going well.

She added: "We weren't up and running for the full week because we were given a day's notice to get it running for the first week.

"Word really is starting to get around about it now though so it's starting to fill up," she said.