A HOSTEL for the homeless in Basingstoke has got a welcome £5,000 boost - courtesy of The Gazette and a charitable trust run by its owners.

Gazette editor-in-chief Bill Browne handed over the cheque for May Place House to delighted managers this week.

The hostel has been the focus of The Gazette's Christmas "A Place For Us" campaign.

This latest bonus from The Gannett Foundation could not have come at a better time for May Place.

"This means we will be able to completely re-carpet the building," said manager Chris Diston. "We have been around for five years now and the carpet has been hit hard. Without this money we may not have been able to replace it."

Rosemarie Driver, resettlement manager at May Place House, explained why having new furnishings is so important.

"It will give a real feeling of worth to the residents knowing that people care enough to have done this," she said. "This will make May Place House more homely and comfortable for them."

According to Chris Diston, The Gazette-backed "A Place for Us" campaign has helped in several ways.

The initiative has involved diners agreeing to have an extra £1 added to their bills with this money going to May Place House.

"This has raised the profile of our work, but has also created an awful lot of goodwill from individuals and companies alike," he said.

"We have received a lot of practical and financial help over the last couple of months."