The newly elected mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has donated 15% of his salary to help eradicate homeless in the region.

Mr Burham had pledged to end rough sleeping in the city region by 2020 and has now given £1,375 to kickstart the new Homelessness Fund.

The fund will help support initiatives to reduce homelessness including bringing empty properties back into use, expanding mental health and rehabilitation programmes and building specialised supported accommodation for young people.

Mr Burnham said: 'Rough sleeping and homelessness are not inevitable consequences of a 21st Century economy. We all have a duty to ensure no one is forced to spend a night on the streets and every Greater Mancunian has a stable place to call home.

'That is why I have made ending rough sleeping across the city region by 2020 one of my top Mayoral priorities. Within three years, and if we can achieve it earlier, no one should be forced to spend a night on the streets. I will also work with all relevant organisations to develop a plan to reduce all forms of homelessness in Greater Manchester.'

The fund will operate as a Community Foundation and is being facilitated by homeless charity Crisis.