Homeless numbers are on the increase across north Wales

At a meeting on Tuesday councillors were told how an increased reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation has contributed to the hike.

The average cost of a B&B is about �75 per night per family and the number of people in such accommodation has risen from 77 to an estimated 274.

Last year 699 people applied to the council for accommodation compared to a projected 931 by the end of this year.

The shortage of accommodation means that we have had to use B&Bs more than we would have liked Steve Partner, Flintshire council

The local authority has said it is expecting to face an overspend of �350,000 on homelessness services this year.

In a report to the executive, councillors heard how more cash was urgently needed to strengthen staffing structures to meet the rapid growth in homeless numbers.

Steve Partner, Flintshire's director of community and housing services, said: "We are in the middle of renovating two hostels which were previously used by the council to accommodate about 25 people at a time.

"The shortage of accommodation means that we have had to use B&Bs more than we would have liked to.

"There is a general growth in number across the board and you would probably find the same situation reflected across north Wales."

The units at the Greenbank Villas in Flint are undergoing refurbishment and the council-owned hostel at Erw Groes in Holywell is to be demolished and rebuilt.

Councillors passed all the recommendations contained in the report including the appointment of an accommodation officer at a cost of �23,500 a year to deal with applications.

It had been predicted the Homelessness Act 2002 would place additional demands on councils because it increased the types of people who should be regarded as a priority.

The council is required in most cases to secure temporary accommodation while inquires are completed to establish whether people are eligible.