The hardest thing about being homeless is people looking down on you, according to one anonymous homeless man.

In a random act of kindness, Ben Holmes stopped to share a Subway with a homeless Preston man and his dog.

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The man, who the University of Manchester student decided to call Bill, says that people look down on him as though he has chosen to live on the streets.

The Facebook post of the photo and Bill’s story has been shared over 4,000 times so far.

Ben writes: “After picking us up a couple of sandwiches and cokes I sat down with Bill and asked him about himself. Bill is in his thirties and Tia is 12 and going a bit blind.

“Bill explained that up until a year ago he’d had a house and a job and a mortgage. But when he lost his job and his girlfriend he had no family to turn to, so wound up sleeping on the street.

“Bill described that the worst thing about being homeless isn’t the cold or the hunger, it’s that most people who walk past him look down on him as though it’s his fault and he chose to live like this. He told me that people don’t realise that they’re just a bit of bad luck and couple of missed mortgage repayments away from being that person sat on the street asking passers by for help.”

If Bill’s story has affected you, you can help the homeless by donating to, or volunteering for, The Foxton Centre.

The Foxton Centre fully re-opened last week after a fire and works to help the most vulnerable in Preston, providing a safe environment and helping them to get back on their feet.