A CHARITY helping homeless people in Bournemouth has been given a free minibus.

The vehicle was donated by the Wolfenden family, who run Ferndown vehicle hire firm Abacus, to Michael House - a provider of emergency and longer-term accommodation for homeless people.

Dave Wolfenden, who founded the hire company in 1985, said his team read through the entries and decided Michael House would make the most of the prize.

"It was important to us that the vehicle would be fully used by the winners and having met the team, we are confident that the Ford Transit will be kept busy over the years to come," he said.

"We wanted to put something practical back into the society that has made our business successful over the decades."

More than 150 charities entered the competition to win the minibus.

Charity chief executive Mark Horsford said: "We really appreciate the generosity of the Abacus family.

"We are now able to take our residents out into the countryside for walks and offer family style outings without our volunteers having to use a small fleet of cars.

"Currently, all Michael House residents are fully engaged in education, training, voluntary work and/or employment."

Visit michaelhouse.co.uk