A desperate dad has told how a hero homeless man paid for car parking ticket after his daughter fell ill - and now he is determined to do something special in return.
Lee Shakespeare, 42, said strangers refused to come to his aid in the Lace Market Car Park in Nottingham.
The father was so bowled over by the rough sleeper's response that he has vowed to keep him warm this winter.
The clothing store owner and friend Simon Tuckwell spent most of Monday afternoon dishing out their home-made 'sleeping bags' filled with jumpers, gloves, hats and socks.
He told NottinghamshireLive : "I had my children with me - my son and daughter, who was three at the time.
"My little girl was really poorly so we were in a rush to get back to the Lace Market car park and get home.
"She was feeling sick and her stomach hurt. I bundled them in the car and went to use contactless on my card but it was not working.
"Because I had no change I asked a couple of people if anyone could spare £3 and I would bank transfer the money right away; people looked away or flatly refused.
"I saw a guy with a bunch of pounds in one hand and he said 'no'."
The distressed dad marched down to the car parking manager's office but it was closed. My daughter was having a meltdown in the car because she was going to be sick.
"I went back to the machine to see if there is anything I could do and then a voice said 'here's £3 if you want it mate'. It was the homeless man in the doorway of the car park."
Mr Shakespeare couldn't believe his eyes.
"He said 'I can hear your girl's upset - you can have it. I have £20 for a room. I was absolutely relieved but I felt disappointed in the rest of the human race.
"I was in desperate need of help as a parent. I lose £3 down the back of the sofa."
The dad said he drove to Tesco and bought the man sandwiches, sausage rolls and even drew out £20 as well as £3 extra for the money he had given him.
"I bought it back and he said 'you did not need to'. He divided it out with the two other homeless guys that were there. My wife and I have always had the same frame of mind.
"I don't give money but I will give them hot food and drinks."
He felt "enough is enough" and that it was time to act, and handed out warm clothes to Nottingham's homeless in Upper Parliament Street on Monday, December 23.
This includes brand new sleeping bags, socks, gloves, scarves, jumpers, coats and hats as the temperature starts to drop.
"These people are there not through choice. They have been dealt a bad hand and you need to put yourself in their shoes. I lost my business and house when the recession hit in 2007.
"I had nowhere to go. I have been in a YMCA and managed to find a two-bedroom home. I was close to having nothing. I know how easy it is to drop off the grid."
