THOUSANDS of people in Dorset are homeless, with some of those living in the county's most affluent towns among those affected, new figures suggest.

Officials from charity Shelter say at least 459 people in Bournemouth, 287 people in Poole, 150 people in Christchurch and 100 people in East Dorset are homeless.

Not all of those affected by homelessness will be sleeping on the streets, however.

For example, according to the organisation, more than 420 of the number listed in Bournemouth are in temporary accommodation arranged by the council.

However, the data does include recent figures on rough sleepers and those in homeless hostels.

The Daily Echo reported this month that the number of people sleeping rough on the streets of Bournemouth has doubled since last year's count.

There are currently 58 homeless people in the town, according to the latest figures. In 2018, 29 people were counted, but officials say this number was "artificially low".

Shelter's chief executive Polly Neate said the analysis shows the “grim truth our new government must confront and do something radical to change”.

“Homelessness blights lives and leaves a lasting imprint of trauma, and yet 280,000 people in England are without a home this December. And many are only days away from joining them," she said.

“As well as those facing serious ill health or even death sleeping rough on our streets this winter, there are thousands of families trapped in grotty emergency B&Bs, with no space for children to sit and eat, let alone play."

Shelter's report said the new government must take "urgent" action to address the "dire lack of social homes at the crux of this emergency, before the situation is likely to get worse".

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it was supporting councils to reduce the numbers of people in temporary accommodation.

He added: "[We're] giving £1.2 billion to tackle all types of homelessness.

"Everyone should have somewhere safe to live, and councils have a duty to provide accommodation to those who need it, including families with children."