A wide snapshot of Kent's rough sleepers has been revealed for the first time.

More than 150 volunteers scoured the county's towns last night in a bid to build up a picture of homelessness in Kent.

It is the first time charity Porchlight has expanded to some west Kent areas to highlight the extent of the problem.

In total 158 people took part in the count in Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Swale, Shepway and Thanet last night.

It was used as a trial by charity Porchlight, which has previously counted towns on different nights for the Government's official figures.

~Listen: Porchlight's outreach strategic area manager, Kimba Smith, tells how the poll was carried out>>>

If deemed a success it may expand to cover all authorities in Kent, and be used to formulate part of the government’s national statistics for the area.

Volunteers went out from midnight searching for rough sleepers.

Canterbury had the most, with four people found, and evidence of three more. Ashford came in second, with two people found asleep on the streets.

Porchlight chief executive Mike Barrett said “The street count is only a snapshot 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. Also it does not record the hidden homeless – people who are homeless but not necessarily sleeping on the street or at least not every night.”

The trial count was co-ordinated with local authorities and followed guidance set by the Communities and Local Government Department.

Since January Porchlight’s Kent Outreach Service has been operating Kent-wide supporting vulnerable people who are sleeping rough, “sofa surfing”, in unsuitable housing or finding themselves threatened with imminent homelessness.

Between July and September this year it received 295 referrals with 60 per cent of those sleeping rough.

The highest referrals have come from Gravesham (56) with Canterbury second (45).