Allegations of cold water assault on homeless man outside Toni&Guy 'appear to be wrong'

A member of staff at Toni&Guy, on Birley Street, denied throwing a bucket of cold water on a man this morning following a now-deleted Facebook post from local homeless support group The Albert Project.

He said: "There was a homeless guy on the step and two wardens lifted him off, and he had weed himself so I rinsed off the step. None of the water touched him."

A spokesman for The Albert Project has now said that the allegations 'appeared to be wrong'.

He said: "I have spoken to the BID team and the council and Toni&Guy, and they were saying that he (the homeless man) was removed down the street and he had urinated all over the doorway, and they were cleaning it.

"There have been a lot of reports saying it was an assault, but I wasn't there and so I took the post off my page, because I couldn't be certain of it. Now I'm inclined to believe what the council and police are saying."

A police spokesman said: "At 9.22am at Toni&Guy on Birley Street, a man was refusing to leave the address. A couple of police officers have attended and he has been moved on and the case has been closed."

He said there was no suggestion that any assault had taken place based on the police's logs, and that their involvement in the matter had come to a close.

A spokesman for Toni&Guy said: “We have been very disturbed at inaccurate reports circulating on social media regarding an incident earlier today near our salon in Blackpool.

"Most importantly, our concern is for the gentleman involved - we understand he is now receiving appropriate support.

"Local police have clarified that officers attended reports of a man in a doorway on the street just after 9am this morning. Staff at the salon had sought further assistance having not been able to wake the gentleman. Police have confirmed that the man was moved on by officers without issue. The man did not come into contact with any water and was not harmed in any way.

"TONI&GUY shares public concern at such reports and the extent of homelessness within our society. Our salon team are following up with local charity The Albert Project, known for its work within the community.”

The North West Ambulance Service was called to Abingdon Street just before 11am, and took a man in his 60s to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for a check-up. However, they were unable to confirm if the incidents were connected.