A FUNERAL director is helping to keep a roof over the heads of Darlington’s homeless population.

Staff at Co-operative Funeralcare, based in Cockerton, donated more than £1,700 to the 700 Club recently.

The charity helps people across Darlington cope with issues relating to homelessness.

The generous donation will be used to purchase an array of new equipment for the charity.

It will provide the 700 Club with equipment including a washing machine, bedding, tables, carpets and mattresses.

The items will be used to improve conditions at The Lodge, a facility run by the charity.

The Lodge provides short term transitional housing to people in Darlington who have nowhere else to live.

The Co-op also donated a printer for use in the charity’s offices.

The 700 Club’s chief executive, John Elliston, said: “We are overwhelmed by the Co-operative Funeralcare’s generosity of the donation towards our work at The Lodge.

“The contributions will go into immediate use – I think the washing machine has already been used more than 30 times and we’ve only had it a week.”

Hayley Gilbert of the Co-operative Funeralcare added: “The staff at the 700 Club do such an amazing job in the community.

“It was our pleasure to support them and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”