'We are trying to get everyone inside during cold snap'

A Liverpool charity said it is working "around the clock" to help homeless people in the region as temperatures drop.

Dave Carter, chief executive of Liverpool homeless charity The Whitechapel Centre, said measures are in place to protect homeless people.

"We want to make sure that we find everybody, see everybody and try and get everybody indoors," Mr Carter said.

Liverpool City Council confirmed the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol - which aims to protect rough sleepers by providing emergency, short-term accommodation or shelter during periods of extreme weather - is in effect.

He said the charity had an outreach team working "24 hours a day, seven days a week" over winter to help people.

"Christmas is always one of our busiest periods," he said.

"It's a time when on the one hand there's that joyous occasion for a lot of families but on the other hand for others its a periods of reflection and being without and being excluded, so we see demand this time of year increase.

"There is the added pressure during winter because of the life-threatening impacts of severe, cold weather.

"We want to try and make sure we've got a bed and accommodation available for every individual that we see," he said.

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