Inspiring Alice, aged 11, collects for the homeless

Alice Johnson has accumulated a haul of clothes, blankets, shoes and food of her own volition.

The St Peter's Collegiate School pupil is just 11 years old but her inspirational collection will now benefit homeless people across Wolverhampton.

Alice sent out letters to everyone in her street, York Avenue in Compton, asking for donations and then rounded them up with her father Paul.

She will hand over the huge collection to the Good Shepherd Ministry, based at Darlington Street Methodist Church in the city centre.

And with her father she will also hand blankets out directly to people sleeping rough on the streets.

The selfless youngster said: "I just thought it was getting colder so people would need these type of things.

"Everyone's been very generous and we've got lots of blankets, clothes and food.

"We'll take it to the Good Shepherd Ministry and go onto the streets handing out blankets."

And Alice plans to experience first hand what the people she has collected for go through on a daily basis by sleeping rough next month.

She and Paul will join hundreds more in the St Basils Big Sleepout, a Birmingham event where people sleep outside in a cardboard box to raise awareness of homelessness.

Paul paid tribute to his daughter's kindheartedness and said: "She thinks of others a lot and it's great what she's done.

"On the day we collected everything from the street it was absolutely pouring it down and she got soaked but she insisted on going.

"The Big Sleepout got her thinking about people less fortunate than herself and it's just gone from there.

"It's been a very rewarding few weeks."

Mother Julie Ann added: "Alice has got a real heart for the homeless.

"Paul has helped out at the soup kitchen at Darlington Street Methodist Church in the past and Alice thinks the same way, she's a very thoughtful little girl."

The Big Sleepout takes place on November 28.