Homelessness in Bradford has fallen by more than 50 per cent in the last year according to new figures.

Statistics released by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) show that the number of homeless acceptances across the district has dropped from 233

in 2004 to 111 for the same period this year.

Nationally, the number of people without homes has seen a drop of 33 per cent from 3,740 to 2,510 compared with the same period the previous year, and annual sleeping rough figures have fallen by 66 per cent.

Greg Thomson, chief officer at the charity Nightstop UK, said: "Figures are dropping in terms of families but that is not the case for young people.

"There has been a drop in the number of people sleeping rough but that is only one part of the youth homeless scene."

The Government has invested more than £200 million over the last three years to prevent and reduce homelessness, with a further £230 million being invested up to 2008.

New laws were also introduced under the Homelessness Act 2002 to make sure all local authorities have a strategy to tackle the issue, including sleeping rough.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: "Bradford has followed the national trend of reducing the number of people being accepted as homeless by offering an improved and excellent housing advice service in accordance with the government's preventative agenda.

"This is reflected in the fact that Bradford Community Housing Trust (BCHT), who deliver the service on behalf of the council, have received regional 'champion status' because of the quality of service they provide."

Pam Bennett, head of housing access and advice at BCHT said she welcomed the significant reduction in homelessness.

She said: "We set up a housing advice service to help resolve the problems which often lead to homelessness before they occur such

as working with tenants and private landlords to prevent evictions and with families when there may be tensions.

"Around two-thirds of the cases we deal with are successfully resolved.

"It is a positive sign that

our approach of giving effective housing advice and preventative work, such as mediation, is

making a difference.

"We have also received funding from the Council this year to develop our mediation support to young people who may be asked to leave the family home because of a fall out with parents."

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper, who has just announced the £2million Working Future scheme to help families out of temporary accommodation, said significant progress had been made in addressing the worst forms of homelessness but more needed to be done.