In response to online haters a directory of everything that’s good about Preston has been created.

Retired teacher Christine Cox said she did not recognise the city and people being talked about on social media – so decided to do something about it.

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Preston Cares – the name of the online directory – already lists more than 200 initiatives that support residents of the city in all sorts of ways.

Mrs Cox said: “I became disheartened by the many negative comments I was seeing on below the line comments on Blog Preston, various Facebook groups and the Lancashire Post.

“I taught in a local school for 32 years and recall hundreds of delightful pupils who were thoughtful, caring and compassionate so felt sure the negativity I was reading was not representative of Prestonians.” When I started searching for projects and organisations that exist for the community – especially not for profit ones- I decided this abundance of goodwill needed showcasing.”

Read more: City of Sanctuary declared in Preston

“In 2016, I was involved in a grass-roots initiative driven by Facebook groups to support the refugees in Northern France. Once the project was up and running I decided to turn my attentions closer to home.

“Whenever I read reports about helping refugees, I would see comments asking what the ‘do-gooders’ were doing for the homeless or the hungry. I felt sure that lots of Prestonians were doing good and set out to find the evidence.”

Christine, 60, hopes the new website will become a community initiative in itself

She said: “I am relying on people submitting links that are not yet listed – using the simple online form. Then we need to share the website on social media and watch it develop.”

“We know there are local people who have driven community initiatives not just for a year or two but for decades. Over to you, the people of Preston!”

To get featured on the directory you can submit a link to Christine and view the whole directory here.