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A 73-year-old man with cancer who was living on the streets has been given hope thanks to the tireless efforts of local volunteers.

The rough sleeper, who is called George, suffers with pancreatic cancer and emphysema and ended up on the streets of Birkenhead.

When he showed up at an breakfast event run by the Fans Supporting Foodbanks (FSF) team at the Charles Thompson Mission on Sunday morning - the volunteers were shocked that such a vulnerable person had been able to fall through the cracks.

David Fitzpatrick, an FSF volunteer, who runs the Birkenhead event, explained: "We set up the breakfast on a Sunday event because we realised there was nothing in Wirral for homeless people at the weekends.

"We feed people, let them get a wash and have a chat and give them advice.

"This is what we did with George when he showed up on Sunday."

David added: "But when I was back at home getting ready to go to the match, I couldn't stop thinking about this 73-year-old, vulnerable man being back out on the streets."

David went back out and found George, sitting alone in the rain in the same spot he had been earlier.

He then travelled with him around the various hostels in the local area, but wasn't satisfied that he would be properly looked after.

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He explained: "I managed to get in touch with a friend who had a spare room and thankfully he put George up for the night."

The following day David and George went straight to Wirral Council with one aim - getting him somewhere safe to live.

David said: "I went to Wirral Council's Conway Building and basically said we weren't moving until we got sorted."

After some 'back and forth', the council agreed to pay for a hotel for George for five nights - giving David precious time to work out how to get him into some stable accommodation.

Speaking about George, David said: "George is a very vulnerable man. He is someone who has been taken advantage of by people with addictions.

(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)

"He was living with some so-called mates before but it was not a pleasant situation and that is how he ended up on the streets."

David has been volunteering with the Fans Supporting Foodbanks group - who collect food and supplies for vulnerable families before Liverpool and Everton matches.

He said: "I have learnt a lot from Dave Kelly and Ian Byrne who founded the project - and that is to not take no for an answer when it could be the difference between life and death."