The number of people living on the streets of Cardiff could double over the next 12 months, according to the housing charity Shelter Cymru.

The charity says the situation in south Wales is approaching crisis point, with Cardiff facing particular problems.

Homelessness in the capital has risen sharply in the past two years and a leading Labour city councillor has accused the Welsh Assembly of being "in denial" about the problem.

Last week, three pregnant women were found to be living rough on the city's streets, causing renewed concern.

Catherine Murphy and her family were made homeless

Last year in Wales, 35,000 people contacted local councils about housing needs, but the real figure is thought to be much higher.

On the steps of the national museum in the civic centre, Henry beds down for the night, close to where Cardiff's outreach team bring hot food and blankets to the homeless.

Henry's nightspot is just a short distance away from revellers enjoying Cardiff's Winter Wonderland temporary ice rink attraction.

"The temperature is dropping tonight so I need to get into my sleeping bag quickly," said Henry.

I do not think that people appreciate the sheer rise in numbers over the last year or so Cardiff councillor Chris Bettinson

"I keep the blanket underneath me to keep the cold from the stone slabs. I have a good sleeping bag that can take temperatures of -5C."

Clive sleeps rough in a city car park, which he describes as an "absolutely crazy situation".

"I owned my own house and car and this is how sick and deprived I have become and how I undervalue myself."

City outreach worker Karen Batten said she did not know how people coped with being out in such cold temperatures.

"It is a horrendous situation," she said.

Shelter Cymru assisted 14,000 people with housing problems in 2001 and currently, there are 2,000 people requiring hostel accommodation every night throughout Wales.

'Quite dramatic'

The city council hit the headlines recently when it called for a suspension of the right to buy legislation to enable it to hold on to its social housing stock.

Cardiff councillor Chris Bettinson said the assembly's own initiatives were not enough to tackle a growing problem in the city.

"I do not think that people appreciate the sheer rise in numbers over the last year or so," he said.

"And I do not think it is appreciated the extent to which Cardiff suffers from the sort of effect of attracting the homeless from across south Wales."

John Puzey, the director of Shelter Cymru, said there had been a "quite dramatic" rise in the numbers of homeless people on city streets.

'Eye-opener'

He said the reasons why Cardiff was a particular problem area was because of the lack of affordable rented property, soaring house prices and the government's right to buy policy creating a shortage of council properties.

Jonathan Morgan AM joined Plaid Cymru counterpart Geraint Davies recently in a "sleep-out" on Cardiff's streets and found the experience "an eye-opener".

Mr Morgan said he witnessed homeless people suffering from problems of drink, drugs and mental health issues.

He now wants the assembly to work more closely in coordinating efforts by various agencies to tackle the heart of the problem, taking some of the strain of local housing authorities and social services.