HOLLYOAKS actress Jazmine Franks has been named as a patron for homeless charity Barnabus.

The Channel 4 soap star, who hails from Bury, has worked with the charity since November 2016, volunteering at the Beacon Centre, in Bloom Street.

Ms Franks made her first on-screen appearance as Esther Bloom in Hollyoaks in 2011, and departed from the programme in April this year.

Her new role as patron will see her help raise funds and awareness for the charity throughout 2018.

Ms Franks, from Ainsworth, said: "Through working at Barnabus, I've had the opportunity to meet some brilliant people and I think the work that the staff and volunteers do is phenomenal.

"I look forward to working more closely with them and spending more time at the drop-in centre."

The Beacon Centre provides cooked meals, hot showers, drop-in sessions, and health and wellbeing sessions to the homeless community, many of whom have addictions or mental health issues.

Barnabus' outreach programme, which was launched in 1991, supports more than 600 people to get off the streets every year.