WORK is set to start on a new multi-million pound centre to help the homeless in Winchester.

Durngate Place, the former Red Cross building, will be demolished and replaced by a new base for the Trinity Centre.

City council leader George Beckett will symbolically start the demolition on Wednesday.

The Trinity Centre has operated in the city since 1986 in several buildings of varying suitability.

A funding appeal, led by Viscount Lifford, brought in over £2m to pay for the project. The city council is offering the site at a peppercorn rent. The number of clients using Trinity's services rises each year.

Around 50 people currently attend the centre each day, about 17 of whom are rough-sleepers.