Centrepoint helpline: Tesco shoppers give generously to homeless appeal

Staff at one of the capital’s busiest Tesco stores today thanked Londoners for a “fantastic” start to four days of fundraising for our Young and Homeless Helpline appeal.

Workers are raising money at more than 500 Tesco Express, Metro and Super outlets across London.

More than £1,300 was raised yesterday at the Covent Garden, Dean Street and Regent Street stores.

At Regent Street, staff rattled donation buckets and created a party atmosphere as busker Nicola Hogg performed.

Customers played table football and tried to win theatre tickets by correctly guessing the number of oranges in a Centrepoint hamper.

Manager Amanda Robinson said: “The response has been fantastic. Every day when we open the store there are people sleeping rough on the doorstep.

"No one wants to see anyone on the streets, especially young people.”

Accountant Daniel Johnson, who donated, said: “You see more and more homeless people on the streets - it is great to see something being done about it.”