Caring Sheffield Asda colleague Gail helps homeless man find a safe place to stay

After checking if he was okay, she got him a hot drink and then made telephone calls with homelessness organisations to see if they could find him shelter.

Gail, who works on the customer services desk at the Asda store, said: "I was on the way into work and pulled up in the car park and I saw at first what I thought was a pile of blankets so I went to investigate. When I get closer I realised that there was someone in there asleep.

'He was one of the good ones': Thousands raised in memory of Eastenders writer and 'all round good bloke' from Sheffield

"I gently asked the man if he was okay and asked if I could do anything to help him. He said, 'I'm homeless love and I'm just here because it's somewhere safe and I need to get a couple of hours' sleep'. I said, 'If you want I know of a couple of places that might be able to come out to help you' and did he want me to get in touch with them. Bless him, he had tears in his eyes."

She then went to get him a hot drink and managed to get hold of Homelessness in South Yorkshire Action who sent someone out to the store within the hour.

Forty-year-old Gail, who's worked at Asda Chaucer Road since it opened nine years ago, said: "The gentleman is now in supported accommodation and getting all the help that he needs.

"It was the right thing to do at the end of the day. I always have a belief that an act of kindness can make a difference to someone. I just always think that you should help people if you can.

The action group posted on Facebook: "Alan now has the keys to his new home and would personally like to say a massive thank you to Gail. She never gave up on him and Alan is now ready to start his new life."

Deputy store manager Chris Fletcher said: "It's just Gail's character to try to help wherever she feels she can, when other people may just walk past.”

A Sheffield boxer who has tested positive for Covid TWICE is urging people to get vaccinated