A WHITEHAVEN rugby player has been helping the homeless keep warm this winter.

Jason Mossop, 32, handed out jackets, blankets and sleeping bags to people living on the streets in Leeds.

The Whitehaven Rugby League player, who lived in the city for a number of years, put out a plea for donations on social media, and was inundated with offers of support.

He said: “A lot of people supported it and it was really nice. It’s something I try to do every year.”

Jason was inspired to start helping the homeless a few years ago after an encounter with two rough sleepers while parking his car in Leeds.

Concerned for their welfare during one of the coldest winters on record, he opened his car boot, got out two jackets, a blanket, a new hat and pair of gloves, and handed them over.

“They were chuffed to bits,” he said.

Since then Jason and his girlfriend, Lisa Morley, have distributed warm clothes to people sleeping rough in Leeds every winter.

Jason took several car loads of clothes to give out over Christmas and New Year.

He said homelessness is a real issue in the city.

“From me parking up my car and walking past the train station, I’d easily walk past 20 homeless people just going into the city centre,” he said.

“You see them getting abused - getting things thrown at them, people kicking them. It’s sickening.”

However, Jason said there are a lot of people who go out of their way to help the homeless over the festive period.

“The amount of other people who go out to help as well - it was nice to see them out helping the homeless.”

Jason thanked Whitehaven Rugby League Club and Number 11 Market Place, who provided drop-off points for donations,

He also thanked Rachel Lowrey, a teacher at West Lakes Academy, who collected items and dropped them off at Number 11 Market Place, and everyone else who contributed.