Homeless deaths rise in Southend

An Essex charity supporting rough sleepers says homelessness has been getting "progressively worse" over the past few years.

In Southend, eight homeless people died in 2024 compared to one death in 2023. Across the East of England as a whole, there were 144 reported deaths in the past 12 months.

Vanessa Hemmings from HARP is "incredibly concerned" at the rising number of deaths, with support struggling to keep up with demand.