A Derby charity says a recent study carried out into the number of homeless people in the city proves there is a crisis.

The survey found there are far more sleeping rough than the seven people Derby city council has said there were.

The Padley Centre was asked by the council to carry out the study into how many people are homeless in the city.

The group is calling for more beds to be made available in hostels.

'Slept rough'

Richard Jones, the centre's director, said the way the government told local authorities to carry out their surveys was flawed.

"The city council, when they went out, didn't go down the back streets," he said.

Squaters are not classed as homeless

"They didn't go and look into skips they didn't go into car parks, they just went and looked at people in shop doorways.

"Of the 99 people we interviewed, 39 people had slept rough that night and were going to sleep rough the next night.

"That did not include people in squats or a married couple who are regular rough sleepers, because we could only interview single people."

Shop doorways

The charity is particularly concerned for the well-being of homeless people as the winter weather worsens.

Chris Church, a housing officer at Derby City Council said their original survey did follow government guidelines using different agencies including the Padley Centre.

"Of the seven rough sleepers found by the teams of counters on the night, most were in car parks," he said.

"Others were located at the bus station and a park.

Dead man

"None were found in shop doorways.

"The city council is aware of the need for additional temporary accommodation.

"We are working with voluntary sector partners and government agencies to expand provision of such accommodation."

On Monday, 60-year-old Larry Shaw who was believed to be homeless, was found dead in Derby's Becket Street.