The annual count of rough sleepers across Kent took place last night. Two people were found to be sleeping on the streets in Ashford and one on the streets of Shepway. 158 people turned out in bitter temperatures to carry out the countywide count, which was commissioned by homelessness charity Porchlight (formerly East Kent Cyrenians).

Last year no one was found to be sleeping rough in Ashford during the annual count.

Shepway has one of the highest referral rates of vulnerable people. Between July and September this year 29 people from Shepway were referred for help, with 60% of those sleeping rough. A third of all the referrals are young: 18 – 24-years-old.

Mike Barrett, chief executive of Porchlight said: "The street count is only a snap shot of the people who are sleeping rough.

"It does not show the whole picture of homelessness, as we never find all the people who we know are rough sleeping and it doesn’t record the hidden homeless - people who are homeless but not necessarily sleeping on the street or at least not every night."