SOME of the region's top financial institutions have pledged their support to hundreds of homeless families.

Halifax Bank of Scotland, Nationwide, HSBC, Bank of America and Marks & Spencer Money have all lent their backing to Save The Family, a Chester charity that provides accommodation and support for homeless families throughout the north west and north Wales.

Industry leader Unilever and Chester business BiG Storage have also lent their support.

The firms will help by encouraging fundraising among staff, providing volunteers to undertake maintenance at the centre and sponsoring appeals on behalf of the charity.

Jeni Underhill, corporate social responsibility manager for Marks and Spencer Money, said: "M&S Money is delighted to be supporting Save the Family this year. We feel the charity's strong values reflect those that we run our business by."

Ian Oulton, Save the Family chief executive, added: "We've been absolutely delighted by the numerous companies, both large and small, committed to helping Save the Family highlight the plight of homelessness and help those left devastated by it."