A HOMELESS bus is well on its way to completion after councillors came together to do some DIY.

The Colchester Rough Sleepers Group is in the process of creating the Chariot 180 - a double-decker bus kitted out for the homeless community.

The coach has two flights of stairs and emergency doors and already has a water storage tank, plumbing for a toilet and an entertainment system.

The group also plans to use the bus as a drop-in centre during the day.

Colchester Council leader Mark Cory attended a day of action and joined in with insulating part of the bus.

Vic Flores, project manager, said: "The bus conversion is going really well. Half of the bus is now insulated.

"We have also built a prototype sleeping pod which we are happy with, and are looking to get the parts for that fabricated.

"It's a bit like flat-pack furniture."

The lower deck of the bus will be a lounge and relaxation area, with a TV and sofas, and work to get this complete is underway.

The team wants the bus to be ready in time for winter.

In June heartless thieves stole the crucial electricity generator from the bus, which set them back in terms of time and money.

Thankfully, Hythe Community Centre replaced it and the team is now back on track.

They have been working hard through the heat.

Mr Flores added: "The heat also hasn't helped, it's like a greenhouse at the top of the coach.

"We are so grateful to Mark Cory for coming down and helping out, it was a day of hard work."

The group is also undergoing medical training, and is receiving advice on how to deal with drug and alcohol addiction so they can support vulnerable people.

Council leader Mark Cory said: “I know they are doing a great job and I wanted to support the organisation.

“We as a council are doing a lot of long-term hard work with rough sleepers and I wanted to make sure we make connections with local agencies.

“These individuals are trying their best to help in a different way.”