UNUSED land in Bournemouth town centre has been converted by a volunteer group to provide a "safe space" for rough sleepers in the town.

The Occupy Homeless Sanctuary started using the site of the former Punshon Church in early December.

To date the outreach facility on Exeter Road has hosted at its peak around two dozen people at one time.

The site includes tents stocked with food and clothing. It also offers first aid to those who need basic treatment.

A spokesperson for the sanctuary, said: "We're looking to provide a safe space and a respite sanctuary for people who haven't got a house or flat.

"Bournemouth Borough Council are disgusting in their attitude towards people. They would rather build office blocks and student accommodation than provide housing for normal people.

"This is a direct, non-violent action. We're peaceful, organised, experienced campaigners and we're here to prove the point with a visual demonstration of the callous and neglect the town hall are putting forward."

A Facebook group, which was set up to inform and update people about the sanctuary, has more than 750 members.

Support has been provided from medical and legal professionals, with a range of outreach workers coming forward to help, the spokesperson said.

He added: "All day long we've been bombarded with goodwill.

"Everybody who comes to the gate has given us positive affirmations, thumbs up, whether they're tourists, whether they're locals.

"We've got a tent full of clothes, stuff with the labels still on. We have set up a medical tent so people can get their wounds and rotten feet sorted out and we just want to provide them with a safe sanctuary - that's all."

The group claim they have been warned by homeless charity St Mungo's about violent people causing harm, but said the shelter was "self-sustaining" and they were "doing their own thing".

"Their (the council's) response is that it is happening everywhere so that's okay. It's not okay.

"We can't fix it all over the country but we can do something spectacular to affect the town hall."

The sanctuary occupants have been served with a notice, which states they must leave the site or face eviction on January 2.

Caro Roundhill, Bournemouth Borough Council's housing strategy and policy manager, said: “We understand that court action has been taken by the landowner. Our priority is to ensure the safety of anyone who may be rough sleeping and we continue to monitor the site.”

Developers, the Mast (Bournemouth) Ltd, who gained outline planning permission for a 96-flat building on the site in February, were unavailable to comment at the time of going to print.