A ST ANNES charity for the homeless in the Fylde has received a helping hand from the Churches Together in Lancashire (CTL) Millennium Appeal.

Face To Face -- which draws its membership from the Christian community in the area -- received the joint largest of nine grants made to Christian organisations in Lancashire active in areas of social concern.

And the charity, based on St David's Road North, received a cheque for £2,250 at a special award ceremony held in the rather unusual venue of a prison.

Preston Prison was chosen to present the CTL awards as it has been helping out a pilot study to re-settle offenders in the community and has also benefited from the appeal with its own cheque for £2,250.

Susan Houston, a charity organiser at Face To Face, said: "We are absolutely ecstatic about getting the cheque. We applied to the appeal to be able to continue training our volunteer staff of some 64 people."

Face To Face runs a rent bond guarantee scheme and a drop-in centre at the United Reformed Church on Clifton Drive North on Mondays and Fridays from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

"At the centre we give people free advice, counselling and food as well as supplying emergency food and health packs for the homeless," added Susan.

The project works alongside the Christian Councils in St Annes, Lytham, Kirkham and Wesham for people who are homeless or living in inadequate accommodation.