THREE big-hearted Bury school girls have donated homemade gift bags to a homeless charity.

Nancy Fillery, aged 10, was inspired to set up a charitable group, Help the Homeless, with her friends Sophia Wray and Florence Carter, after seeing homeless people on the streets - something she "didn't find fair".

The three Year Six pupils from Hazlehurst Primary School, Ramsbottom, then decided to save up their pocket money, to make Christmas gift bags for homeless people in the borough.

Nancy said: "I have always felt bad and upset to see people on the streets without homes and wanted to help.

"I decided that I wanted to help them but I knew I couldn't do it on my own, so I asked Sophia and she said she would love to help me.

"A few weeks later Florence started to help us too and we carried on from there."

By Christmas the girls had collected £30, to which their friends and family also added another £40, in addition to some duvets and extra items.

Using the cash and items the girls made up ten gift bags, each containing a chocolate bar, a drink, hats, gloves, socks, a comb, perfume and throat lozenges.

They also contained a note reading: "Hi, we hope you have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. Keep your spirits high and remember we are thinking of you. You are never alone. Merry Christmas. Lots of love from Nancy, Sophia, Florence and everyone who donated xxx."

The girls, with Nancy's mum, delivered the bags to the Helping Manchester and Bury Homeless night cafe at the Mosses Centre on Christmas Eve.

At the cafe they met two of the centre users Aaron and Lee, who put their bags under the tree to open on Christmas Day.

Nancy's mum, Kath Light Fillery said: I am so so proud of what they have done it has made this Christmas very special.

"Their hearts were really in it for months and passing the bags to the two service users on Christmas Eve was emotional.

The girls compassion is beautiful and should be an example to others in these tough times.

"Homelessness is prevalent at the moment and Helping Manchester and Bury Homeless are doing a wonderful job of supporting and assisting people based at The Mosses Community Centre throughout the night, everyone should try to support this worthy charity.

"I wasn't conscious of homelessness when I was a child which shows how our communities are changed."

Sarah Edgar, office manager at Helping Manchester and Bury Homeless, expressed her thanks to Nancy and her friends, and said that service users were very happy with the gift bags.

She added: "I'm really proud of Nancy for being so selfless, her and her friends.

"She has really thought about what she put in the bags. She is a very very inspirational little girl."

The girls still have some money left over from their Christmas donation, and have said that they plan to continue helping homeless people across the borough.

Nancy said: "I feel good and proud of myself and my friends that we have helped these people have a happier new year.

"It might of only been a little but we are happy to help 10 people at least. We want to carry on the charity and help more and more people."