A RECORD number of people were estimated to be sleeping rough in Bradford last year, new statistics show.

The latest Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show 40 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in Bradford based on a snapshot of a single night in autumn last year - up from 13 the year before.

It is the highest figure since comparable records began in 2010.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "At the annual count last year, Bradford recorded a rise in the number of rough sleepers, in line with increasing numbers nationally, and of course this is a concern.

"Bradford Council's commissioned Homelessness Outreach Partnership (HOP) continues to work hard alongside the Council's Access to Housing Team and other partners to support rough sleepers across the district.

"Helping people off the streets is a key priority for the Council and we are proud of our pioneering approach and the successes we have in supporting some of the district's most vulnerable people.

"Support may range from emergency accommodation through our No Second Night Out service to a planned move into long-term accommodation."

Nationally, the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough rose by 27 per cent last year to 3,898.

This remains below pre-pandemic levels, but represents a significant increase of 60 per cent in the last two years.

The count includes people sleeping outside, but does not cover sofa surfers, those in hostels or shelters, or people in recreational or Traveller sites, and figures are generally considered to be an undercount of the true number.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said the Government "cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the housing emergency".

Ms Neate said the Government has not built enough social homes, forcing thousands of people to "spend their nights freezing on street corners" due to record high rents.

A Government spokesperson responded: "We are now spending an unprecedented £2.4billion to help people at risk of homelessness and support rough sleepers, including £220million announced this week, which will help fund thousands of beds and specialist support services across the country through councils.

"While we have made good progress and rough sleeping remains below pre-pandemic levels, there is more work to be done to meet our ambition to end it entirely, and we will continue to work with local authorities to help people off the streets for good."