THERE are an estimated 300 homeless people in Poole, according to research by a housing and homelessness charity.

Staff at Shelter also estimate that there are around 230 homeless people in Bournemouth, over 80 in Purbeck and 30 in Christchurch.

The data has been collated by analysing a combination of up-to-date government statistics, freedom of information requests, and other published homelessness data.

Campbell Robb, Shelter’s chief executive, said: “Thousands of people in the south west will face the trauma of waking up homeless this Christmas.

“Decades in the making, this is the tragic result of a nation struggling under the weight of sky-high rents, a lack of affordable homes, and cuts to welfare support.

“For the sake of future generations we must pull together to end this crisis, and refuse to rest until every child has a place to call home.”

At the start of last week, a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) was triggered following reports by the Met Office of the temperature falling to zero or below at the start of December.

Councils across Dorset and Hampshire were required to provide overnight accommodation in the cold weather to rough sleepers.