Charity left counting cost after man damages roof

Andrew Brown, the chair of trustees at Harbour Place said the damage to the building was "horrendous"

A charity which helps homeless people has been left "heartbroken" after a man climbed onto the roof of its shelter and ripped off the slates.

Officials at Harbour Place in Grimsby said the damage was caused overnight and heavy rain has caused further problems inside the building.

The charity, based on Hope Street, said it was working on a plan to minimise disruption while repairs took place.

Humberside Police said a 55-year-old man had been charged in connection with the incident.

People have been working overnight to make the building safe

Andrew Brown, the chair of trustees, said two-thirds of the roof slates were removed and efforts were being made to weatherproof the building.

He said: "We've had staff here all night trying to keep the place safe. The water damage is horrendous and it's going to take us a while to get back open. It's just terrible.

"It's going to affect a lot of people and we're working hard to see what other options we have in the short-term. We have a responsibility to make sure everyone is safe."

In addition to the damaged roof, officials said the building suffered water damage from overnight rainfall

Users of the shelter who stay overnight were taken in by the Salvation Army as a temporary measure during the incident.

Harbour Place was opened in 1996 and supports rough sleepers and homeless people across North East Lincolnshire.

The charity was planning to offer 24-hour access to its facilities in the next fortnight but those plans are now on hold.

Mr Brown added: "All of this will hopefully be covered by our insurance. But how do we provide a service while the building is out of action? We can still do street outreach, we're looking at options for our other services."

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