A survey that has revealed many hostels in Wales are already full has led to fears that many homeless people may be sleeping rough this Christmas.

At least 2,200 people will be relying on hostel accommodation in Wales this Christmas.

Homeless charity Shelter Cymru - which produced the survey - estimates around 700 of those will be children.

"This number of full hostels is a real concern," said Shelter Cymru Director John Puzey.

"It means that some people that find themselves homeless in the coming period simply won't have anywhere to go - even if they're looking for somewhere.

"I think it does indicate that there appears to be a growing level of demand for hostel accommodation."

Shelter also said the figure underestimates the real size of the homelessness problem.

The survey concentrated on local authority hostels and voluntary sector provision in Wales.

Rural areas

But it does not include people who may be staying with friends or relatives because they have nowhere to go, or people living in other forms of insecure or poor accommodation.

Shelter is particularly concerned that of the 48 voluntary sector hostels surveyed, 27 were full and a further 11 only had one bed space left.

It means people who find themselves homeless in some parts of Wales may have difficulty in finding a bed for the night.

But it is not people in Cardiff and Swansea who will have the biggest problem finding a bed.

Mr Puzey said there was a particular underprovision of services in rural areas.

Grants announced

The problem of homelessness in rural areas is not as widely recognised - but people are more at risk because the provision of services is lower.

Grants totalling �135,000 for schemes to help people sleeping rough have been announced by Peter Law, Assembly Secretary for Local Government and the Environment.

The money will go to 10 organisations in Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Wrexham, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and Denbighshire.

Mr Puzey said he welcomed the fact that the Assembly had found additional money for winter provision this year and that Shelter have been promised that further funds will be made available from April 2000 to develop new services and initiatives.

New York donation

Shelter Cymru has received an unexpected donation from New York.

Eglwys y Cymry New York, the Welsh Congregational Chapel, whose motto is Our Church is in New York ... Our Hearts are in Wales, donated the proceeds of their annual festival of song which totalled �1,777.

Mr Puzey commented: "This is a wonderful gesture from the Welsh community in New York.

"It is particularly poignant that they recognise the extent of homelessness in Wales when housing problems in New York itself are so shocking. "