THE number of people sleeping rough in Colchester more than doubled between 2010 and 2013.

Fresh figures show, in 2010, about ten people were sleeping rough.

In 2013, the figure had grown to 35 people.

The most up to date figures were published in Colchester Council’s new Homelessness Strategy yesterday in which the council pledges to tackle the problem by helping more people stay at when they run into financial trouble.

That includes increasing support for troubled tenants who could lose their home by offering debt and welfare advice, as well as reducing the number of homeowners losing their property through mortgage arrears, through a mortgage rescue scheme.