A Largs football legend continues to be a Christmas angel for many as he provides an essential and welcoming facility for homeless people in Stoke.

Lou Macari, who played for Celtic and Manchester United, has been praised for his work with Macari Centre, which is now based at a converted former hotel.

The centre used to be based in glamping pods but now has self-contained apartments, giving people in need an address and space of their own, and access to support from a team of trained staff 24 hours a day.

The Macari Centre, which was set up in 2016, provides support and accommodation to around 28 individuals to help them get their lives back on track.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, Lou said: "When it comes to Christmas time, everyone is very busy and people can be forgotten but fortunately for us they are never forgotten in here.

"The person has to show us they have the right intentions and they want to turn their life around and are desperate to do so to get out of the way of life that they have been in.

"It is horrendous what some people have to go through out on the streets and when they explain it to you - and how they want to make that change."

One of the homeless individuals who had been taken in by the centre, despite the "inn being full" was Anthony, whose parents came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation.

Lou was described as "a humanitarian" by Anthony for his endeavours with the Macari Centre.

Lou will attend the centre on Christmas Day, with 25 gift boxes from the League Managers Association, 21 gifts from the rapid relief team in Stoke, as well as other gifts provided by local schoolchildren in the area.

The family of the former football star, who grew up in Largs, owned the much-loved Macari Cafe.

Lou explained how he came up with the original concept on the Macari Centre website.

He said: "In 2016, a news bulletin about the number of homeless people in Britain drove me out of the house and on to the streets of Stoke-on-Trent to find out for myself what life was like for someone who was homeless.

"Having seen the evidence, I made up my mind, there and then, that I would do everything I could to help those who find themselves homeless work towards better lives.

"I am immensely proud of The Macari Foundation and the good work we do."

You can watch the interview with Lou on the BBC iPlayer for 24 hours after the original broadcast.