MORE than 200 people were classed as ‘sleeping rough’ in Somerset over the past year, a new investigation has revealed.

Figures obtained by Advice.co.uk found that North Somerset and Somerset Councils have logged 494 counts of rough sleeping in the area since 2021.

Rough sleeping is one of the most visible types of homelessness as it includes sleeping outside or in places that aren't designed for people to live in, including cars, doorways and abandoned buildings.

In 2018, the average age of a rough sleeper at death was just 44 years old for men and 42 years old for women.

In 2021/22, the number of homeless people sleeping rough counted by Somerset Councils stood at 98.

A year later, this number increased to 171, which is the second-highest number of rough sleepers over the three-year period.

The past year has seen another rise in rough sleepers living in Somerset, standing at 225.