Infectious wrapping paper

The first ever ‘infectious’ wrapping paper has gone on sale today to help raise awareness and funds for homeless people this Christmas. Designed to look like snowflakes, the festive gift wrap re-creates viruses which pose serious health risks to people sleeping rough this winter including the common cold, influenza and pneumonia. All proceeds will go to St Mungo's, the charity which helps people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives. The innovative idea is the work of creative agency WCRS who came up with the idea and decided to donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale to the charity.  It follows reports that Britain is facing one of the coldest winters yet with long-range forecasters predicting freezing winds and heavy snow until February. A total of 6,437 people were seen rough sleeping by outreach workers in London during 2012-13 – a 13 per cent increase on the year before. Of these people 4,353 are new rough sleepers – the equivalent to 12 new rough sleepers a day. Nationally, the number of rough sleepers is also escalating – with an increase of 31 per cent over the last two years.