A LITTLE girl with a very big heart has been spreading some Christmas cheer to homeless people in the borough by delivering them hot food.

Five-year-old Bella Wiles from Basingstoke decided she didn't want any presents for Christmas, but instead wanted to help rough sleepers. She asked her parents to spend the money they would use to buy her gifts to help keep homeless people warm.

Bella was inspired to help homeless people after walking past a man sleeping rough in December last year whilst on a family holiday in Cornwall.

Her mum Samantha Elliott said: "She burst into tears and asked to buy him some food."

Bella gave him some hot pasta, a cup of tea and a reindeer cake, and since then has bought food for homeless people whenever she sees them.

In October Bella was in London watching a show and was concerned about the number of people living on the streets. She asked her mum, and Dad, Adam Wiles, how much they spend on Christmas gifts, and requested they use the money to help homeless people instead.

Samantha said: "We couldn't ignore her request and took her shopping to buy hats, gloves, socks, underwear etc."

Bella wrapped them up with a candy cane and gave them out to rough sleepers at a Christmas lunch organised by the Camrose Centre in town.

But her generosity didn't stop there. Whilst most children will have spent their Christmas holiday playing with new toys, Bella used her free time cooking hot food with her mum to give out to homeless people in Basingstoke.

The selfless youngster has been labelled a "guardian angel" by people on the streets, and has now set up a Just Giving page to raise money to help more homeless people with the hope of buying sleeping bags and clothes, as well as donating funds to the Camrose Centre.

Her mother, who also has an eight week old daughter, said: "If people took the time to talk to these people they would realise  that a lot of them have fallen on tough times. They are friendly and welcome a hot meal and more than anything they are happy they are being spoken to like human beings."

The 32-year-old added: "Bella is becoming known as a little  guardian angel. I'm so proud of her but it's hard not to get choked up talking to these people who are out in these freezing cold nights whilst we are warm at home."

Bella used leftover food from Christmas day to cook a turkey risotto using a Jamie Oliver recipe, and also made sausage sandwiches, all of which she packaged into foil containers to deliver personally, with a message saying 'love Bella' written on top.

Samantha said she is proud of her little girl, adding: "She amazes me that she would rather help others than do things for herself. She amazes me daily with her selflessness. She makes me a better person and is such an inspiration."

Bella has already asked her mum and dad if she can do more to help others next year.

Samantha said: "My little lady with a big heart is planning to change the world and do some good."

To help Bella support homeless people donate via her Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Bigheartedbella?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Yimbyprojectpage&utm_content=Bigheartedbella&utm_campaign=projectpage-share-owner&utm_term=eYma4VkPy