ALMOST forty years ago the tv documentary Cathy Come Home shocked a nation, brought the problem of homelessness into the living rooms of millions - and led to the foundation of the charity Shelter.

Things have changed a lot since then, there is a far greater awareness of the issue and there are support services especially for mothers with young children.

But anyone who has walked the streets of a big city at night lately will know the problem has not gone away.

With the temperatures we have experienced in the past week it is difficult to comprehend just how awful it must be to have to try to sleep under cardboard in freezing, icy conditions.

Now the Blackburn and Darwen charity Nightsafe claims that up to 500 young people find themselves facing life on the street in the borough every year - a horrifying statistic.

Thanks to Nightsafe's efforts virtually all do get a roof over their heads when family problems force them to leave their parental home but the number of youths seeking help is rising all the time.

And on December 16 they are to set up a cardboard city which should act as a timely reminder to all of us of what life is like for some during the season of goodwill.