Hawzah News Agency-A Muslim charity is calling on members of the public to donate their coats in a bid to provide warmth for homeless and needy people in Manchester warm during the winter months.

Human Appeal, a British international development and relief charity in southern Manchester, has launched a campaign called Wrap Up Manchester, which will collect unwanted coats from the public and give them directly to those in need around the city.

The project has organized nine locations across Greater Manchester, donated by Safestore Self Storages, where people can drop off their coats.

Donated coats will then be distributed to homeless shelters, refugee centres, elderly organization, women's refuges, children centres and other charities.

Samra Said, Human Appeal’s UK Programmes Coordinator, said there is a significant need for warm clothing in Manchester at a time when homelessness is rapidly growing.

Ms Said told: “It’s the first time we’ve done something of this nature. We’ve done a call out to all the organizations in Manchester whoever is in dire need. So far we’ve got 500 people down as needing a coat, and we hope to provide for them all.

"Homelessness has worsened and the figures are scary. 100,000 people are homeless across the UK and 13.2 million are living in borderline poverty."

According to the council’s annual rough sleeper count, nearly twice as many people are sleeping on the streets of Manchester as last year. Seventy people were recorded in one night in December, compared with 43 on the same evening in 2014. Meanwhile there were just 10 in 2011.

Earlier this week Theresa May unveiled a £40 million package designed to prevent homelessness by intervening to help individuals and families before they end up on the streets.

Wrap Up Manchester will run between 7-18 November. Donations can be made on here.