GWENT'S largest furnishing company has come up with the cash to help save a Newport night shelter after an impassioned Argus plea.

A cry of despair from those who are responsible for caring for the homeless went up last month after a night shelter run by Newport Action for the Single Homeless was forced to close only months after its launch because of a funding crisis.

The story was splashed by the Argus and within hours the National Assembly had pledged an investigation into the plight of rough sleepers in Newport.

Yesterday George Street Furnishers - a near-neighbour of NASH which is based in Newport's Lower Dock Street - stumped up £10,000.

"George Street Furnishers and the Sheppard family which owns the business have turned out to be the very best of neighbours. I am very grateful," Mr Richard Frame. NASH's director said yesterday.

"After our night shelter in Maindee was forced to close last month, the Argus ran a big story and immediately Edwina Hart, the National Assembly's finance and communities minister, demanded an investigation.

"The day after that Mr Martyn Sheppard said the family had discussed the situation and asked to meet me.

Picture* Graham Sheppard, director of George Street Furnishers, and NASH director of operations Dale Rees celebrate the store's gift to the night shelter "We went to the night shelter at the old Gospel Mission in Maindee and he asked me how much it would cost to re-open it. When I told him £30,000 he offered a third of that sum there and then.

"It is a superb present which I hope will encourage statutory sources such as Newport city council and the National Assembly to make up the difference.

"If each of those gave £10,000 it would be a real business, voluntary sector and public bodies partnership.

"The Argus did a marvellous job in blowing the whistle on this one."

George Street Furnishers director Graham Sheppard said the company had a background of Christian giving. "My brother Martyn read about the closure of the night shelter in the Argus and saw immediately about the need that was there.

"The family had a chat about it and decided straight away to give NASH the money.

"There is a clear need in our city for rough sleepers to have somewhere to go.

"The money will allow the shelter to open its doors again and buy time until some money can be got from official sources."

Dale Rees, NASH operations manager, said: "The Sheppard family's gift goes to the heart of what we are as a city."