STREET survival bags to help keep homeless people safe are being handed out by Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The scheme has been running since 2008, with over 400 bags already distributed throughout Wiltshire and Swindon by homelessness charities and other agencies, such as the Probation Service.

The fire crew is providing an extra 120 survival waterproof rucksacks, which contains items to keep warm such as a bed roll, sleeping bag, survival blanket and socks.

A wind-up lantern provides light, minimising the use of matches, while a tobacco tin encourages the safe disposal of cigarette butts.

Other items include a smoke detector, personal hygiene items, basic utensils, a first aid kit and a flask for hot drinks or soup.

The bags are funded by the service’s community safety department, and are intended to reduce the risk of fire for people living rough.

Station manager Damien Bence from the community safety department explained: “The scheme was prompted by a fire fatality involving a homeless man in Warminster back in 2006, and then a spate of small fires in a derelict building in Trowbridge in 2008, where several people were sleeping rough.

"We realised that, while we were limited in what we could do to change people’s circumstances, we could provide them with the tools to be warmer and therefore safer."

He added: “We know that these bags can make a real difference to people living rough. We have worked with homeless people to make sure that what we provide is what they need – for example, the smoke detector was included after this research.

"If we can reduce the risk of fire, we can reduce the risk to life. As a service, we also have a responsibility to be a community leader, and the bags provide a bit of dignity for people in the worst of situations."