LIVING on the streets is hard, but when the temperature hits freezing point, it becomes a matter of life and death.

Shelter is all-important for homeless people in the winter months. Finding it, however, can be a problem.

Step forward First Stop Darlington.

The advice agency and charity is aiming to help homeless people get through the cold winter months.

It has launched an initiative to offer shelter on evenings when the temperature drops below zero.

Not only that, but First Stop will provide food, somewhere to shower and clean laundry. and even provide clothes if needed at its Tubwell Row headquarters.

The charity has offered these services during daytime hours since it opened in 1999, but it has now extended the coverage to evenings when the thermometer drops below freezing point.

Karen Grundy, the chief officer of First Stop, said that the charity had decided to extend the service to offer help in the hardest times.

"We decided that there needed to be somewhere where people could go to keep warm in the cold weather," she said.

"So when the temperature drops below zero, we open our doors."

Although there are no beds at the centre, First Stop can provide overnight accommodation.

"The project can't be set up for people to sleep here, but we can get sleeping bags," said Mrs Grundy.

Volunteers help the charity to provide the evening service, with people from the town offering their time for free to make the livesof the homeless easier.

"At night, we are staffed by two to three people who have come from places across Darlington, like Darlington Borough Council's housing department, all giving up their time freely."

The charity aims to find somewhere else for people to stay in the long-term for those seeking refuge, but Mrs Grundy admitted it was not always easy to find places for the homeless to stay.

"We try and find other accommodation for them, like hostels or bed and breakfasts, but sometimes there are all kinds of issues.

"They could have a criminal record or be well known to accommodation providers, and that causes problems.

"There's usually around eight to ten of them and the majority of them are known to us, although one or two more people do come up.

"It's not always the same eight to ten people, but sometimes we do get people coming back.

"The idea would be to get them into accommodation - but the reality is that the number may not drop."

The scheme has received donations from local companies, including food from Marks & Spencer.

But Mrs Grundy said that more assistance was needed, with much of First Stop's resources tied up offering the service.

"It does take up a lot of money," she said.

"At the moment, it is all funded through First Stop, using the majority of our resources.

"So we're always looking for donations. Money would be the best thing. Money can go towards lighting and heating."

Mrs Grundy said that any donations would go towards the charity's running costs.

"We'd also welcome any volunteers who are prepared to work free of charge on a night."

Anybody wishing to help can contact Mrs Grundy on (01325) 254463.