Homelessness is a problem in East Lancashire, as it is across the country where it is on the rise at a shocking rate.

Rough sleeping has risen nationally by 30 per cent over the past two years.

Ten people will sleep rough for the first time today but even one night on the streets is a lonely and scary experience. We at the homelessness charity St Mungo’s are using our Action Week (until June 30) this year to say No More.

On any one night, we house and support around 1,700 people across more than 100 projects.

We have interviewed people who recently ended up sleeping on the streets to highlight how opportunities to prevent homelessness are being missed.

Relationship breakdown, bereavement and evictions were the main triggers for people rough sleeping.

One person said: “Sleeping rough was horrible, waking up with frost over me in the morning.”

We are asking people to join us in simply saying “No More”. Visit www.mungos.org to become a St Mungo’s campaigner, and use #NoMore on Twitter to help us raise awareness of rising rough sleeping and how it can be prevented.

Tanya English, St Mungo’s.