YOU can only applaud Gerry Watkins and wish him all the best for his Big Yellow Bus Project.

His innovative idea to purchase a double decker bus and equip it with beds for the homeless to spend their winter nights out of the cold, is an excellent one - and one that makes you wonder why no one else thought of it first.

He has successfully raised the funds for the first bus to be stationed in Cirencester but not one to rest on his laurels, he is continuing his work to ensure more buses can be made available in more towns across the region.

Anyone walking the streets of Cirencester will notice that there are a number of seemingly homeless people and it clearly is an issue in the town, albeit one that is largely ignored.

Most people see Cirencester as the quintessential, affluent Cotswold town but there are pockets of deprivation that require addressing, not shying away from.

This won’t solve homelessness, but it could save a life this winter - well done Gerry!