Dozens of homeless people forced onto the streets of Canterbury by the closure of a day centre say they are becoming desperate.

It follows the decision on Friday by Catching Lives to shut the centre in Station Road East temporarily as a "last resort" sanction because of problems of drug-taking, drinking and abuse of staff and volunteers.

But today users complained they had been left with nowhere to escape the freezing temperatures or get anything to eat.

"We're cold, hungry and depressed. It's getting desperate and killing us now, " said 27-year-old Carl Edwards.

Eileen Wallis, 63, added: "It's hard for those of us who are not part of the problem. Now we are suffering and no one wants to help.

"It's meant to be a charity and yet we're forced onto the streets where everyone is telling us to move on as soon as we find some shelter."

And Ashley O'Brien, 29, called the closure "over the top".

Mr Gore said he had planned to re-open the day centre tomorrow because of the severe weather. But further incidents yesterday - during the short time it was open for preparations for winter shelters users - had changed his mind and it will now not open until Wednesday, .

"The centre is opened from 5pm to 6pm to provide a hot meal for those clients prior to them going to the winter shelter that churches provide," he said.

"But in that time, a shower was broken and there were two incidents of evidence of drug use.

"In light of that, we made the decision not to re-open during the day until Wednesday, as originally planned."

Mr Gore said the charity team and volunteers had unanimously agreed to take the "drastic action" because of the misuse of the centre.

He said: "Of course,we have sympathy with those who abide by the rules. But we cannot continue with the bad language, abuse of staff and drug and alcohol misuse on the premises - and we are talking by more than just a handful.

"We don't ask centre users for much, but it has to be a safe environment for everyone."