FORMER church envoy and Beirut hostage, Terry Waite, was in Basingstoke on Thursday, backing plans to help homeless people.

As president of Emmaus UK, he called on local councillors and business people to help set up a community to provide accommodation and work for the borough's homeless.

At a meeting organised by Emmaus Hampshire, the audience heard how such communities are self-financing groups providing work and support, deriving income from recycling and restoring furniture, electrical goods, cafs and selling plants.

Mr Waite said: "It's a movement that meets real need and enables people to help themselves, giving constructive support to the needy, encouragement to those who are without hope and a positive future for people in our community who need to have some sense of direction for the future.

"Basingstoke has a lot going for it - it's a developing area and an area of great social need. This type of community could be developed to enable people to help themselves without being unduly dependent on external aid.

"Basingstoke should lead the way in this part of England to establishing such a community."

Among those at The Anvil were Basingstoke council leader Brian Gurden and North West Hampshire MP Sir George Young.

Graeme Willis, a member of Basingstoke Action Single Homelessness and a committee member of Emmaus Hampshire, said: "Emmaus is not a constant drain on public money. If you live in such a community, you work for the community. In fact, it's a condition that you come off unemployment benefit or income support when you move in."

Mr Willis said, although there are start-up costs, unlike traditional hostels money generated by the community's work keeps it going.

Emmaus Hampshire spokeswoman Alison Thompson said it was important to raise awareness of the problems faced by homeless people but also to present people with some of the solutions.

She said: "The launch was a way of delivering the idea to local business and community leaders and to gain the necessary support to make the scheme a success."