A group of Largs volunteers are putting the spotlight on the nation's homelessness problem, and have made a heartfelt plea to the community to provide clothing and materials as they rally round to help.

The campaign is collecting essentials such as sleeping bags, gloves, hats, and distributing to the homeless in cities across Scotland.

And the local volunteers received an insight into the problem in Glasgow on Saturday evening, joining the grassroots campaign 'Yes 2 No More Homeless".

Compassionate Charmaine Doig, who helped co-ordinate the Largs campaigners, was among those who issued free hot soup, as well as other important goods.

She said: "I had the privilege of meeting beautiful people all giving their time to hand out the most basic of items to be received with good grace and thanks, with a deep appreciation. I was overwhelmed with emotion.

"It was hard to to hold it together whilst hearing each unique story of how they became homeless but the other emotion was amazing seeing light in people's eyes when only despair existed.

"Seeing a smile on someone's face for simply saying hello. The thank yous for a cup of warm soup. It puts it all into perspective.

The local group are appealing for specifics such as sleeping bags, coats, gloves, hats, socks ,most clothes old or new, and anything to keep warm. Charmaine is happy to take collections, and is also appealing for anyone with storage space to aid the effort. She can be contacted on 07340948855

Charmaine, 33, added: "Sitting there with some of the homeless people, I suddenly felt invisible. Revellers were walking from pub to pub, someone was upset about losing their mobile phone charger, yet people on the street were wondering how they were going to build a home for the night. After ten minutes, I was starting to get a nip in my feet, and my leg was beginning to seize up in the cold. Through talking to the individuals, they hadn't made wrong choices, they had been on minimum wages, and budgets were being stretched too much. That is the reality of poverty in Scotland."

Meanwhile, Largs Academy third year pupils have been investigating the issue of homelessness and the work of the charity "Shelter", and are holding some fundraising activities to support the work of Shelter in the month of December

And Martin Dorchester, the Chief Executive of David MacBrayne Ltd, who operate the Cal Mac ferries including Cumbrae-Largs, will sleep rough in Edinburgh to raise cash and awareness of the issue.

Martin has signed up as part of the Social Bite charity’s CEO Sleep Out in Charlotte Square on December 15 to raise both cash and awareness of the issue of homelessness and the vulnerable people affected by it - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Martin-Dorchester