A shoe and leather repair business in Dublin is offering a unique free service - fixing sleeping bags for the city's rough sleepers.
Tara Leathers, which has been operating in the capital for more than 30 years, said it has repaired around 50 sleeping bags over the past few weeks alone.
Owner Jim Brennan said he decided to offer the service after two homeless men helped him move premises at short notice last Christmas.
"One chap in particular was an incredible help. To get someone to give me a hand on New Year's Eve and New Year’s Day was just fantastic."
Mr Brennan added that the experience opened his eyes to the homeless crisis.
"It’s getting worse and worse.
"And I see so many sleeping bags thrown away and they only need very small repairs.
"I thought somebody should really do something. Then I realised that somebody was me.
"It’s a terrible thing to send good products to a landfill. My door is always open to assist," he said.
