A ONCE homeless 24-year-old from Darwen has turned his life around after helping out with a number of community clean-ups.

Chris Sharples has become a keen volunteer for Blackburn with Darwen Council’s ‘Your Call’ community clean-ups throughout the town, such Chris, 24, was a resident of the James Street Project, a £3.5m supported housing scheme for single homeless people. He said: “I lived at James Street and stayed there for 10 months.

“I left, which I thought was the best option for me, because you have to change your life around.

“I have done quite a few clean-ups and am looking for a full-time cleaning job.”

Council leader Coun Kate Hollern said: “I met Chris at the Your Call event and was impressed with his passion for helping others.”