AN East Yorkshire charity group needs your help today.

Church charity group Mission Trinity, based in Goole desperately want to give a homeless Latvian man who was found dead last month a proper funeral.

And they have been given until noon today to find £1,300, otherwise he will have to have a pauper’s burial which means there will be no funeral for his friends to attend.

So far the group has managed to raise £950 in just 24 hours and they say they need your help to reach their target.

Vladmirs Kolokolovs, 28, was found dead in undergrowth at the end of Gordon Street in Goole on May 17.

He had been a regular visitor to the Trinity Mission drop-in sessions on Friday evenings, held at the Trinity Methodist Church schoolrooms on Clifton Gardens.

After moving to the UK three years ago, Vlad - as he was affectionately known - had been living rough for some time, unable to get a job.

Bubbly and lively, he spoke perfect English and did interpreting work for Mission Trinity and helped in their fundraising efforts.

Mission Trinity chairwoman Jen Smith, - which receives support from Goole Churches Together - explained that Vlad’s body had been released by the coroner to the Social Services yesterday and they had until noon today to find the money.

She said: “Vlad was a lovely man, he had been a bait of a bad lad in his past, but he’d put that behind him and worked hard to pay off his debts. He has many friends in Goole and we’re hoping we can raise the money to give him a proper burial and funeral.

“We are happy to pay the money back - we just don’t have it right now.

Anyone who can help with either ideas or a donation is asked to contact the Mission Trinity helpline on 07925 754679.