PLANS are afoot to open a new emergency accommodation and support centre in Leigh.

The new hub in the town centre will invite 'charities, commissioned providers and wider services' to be based there to provide help and support to homeless people.

Stuart Cowley, director for adult social care and health at Wigan Council, said: “The hub in Leigh town centre will provide emergency accommodation and support.

"We are in early discussions with charities, commissioned providers and wider services as to how the different organisations can work together to make this a reality.”

The exact location of the hub has yet to be announced.

The Atherton and Leigh Shelter for HoPe has expressed an interest in moving into the centre.

The charity is planning to provide emergency accommodation for people in need for the fourth successive winter, but it needs a new base for the service offered between January and April.

More than 40 people spent a night sleeping rough outside The Snug coffee house on Market Street, Atherton, in aid of the charity last weekend.