More Worcester households now have no permanent home than when a law was brought in last year to help those on the brink of becoming homeless.

Shelter has warned that "catastrophic" numbers of people have been shunted onto the streets or trapped in temporary housing.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government statistics show 59 families and couples lived in bed and breakfasts, hostels and other types of temporary accommodation in Worcester during the first three months of this year – including 51 children. This means 1.3 household in every 10,000 was placed in temporary housing.

The figures represent the first full year of data since the Homelessness Reduction Act came into force in April last year.

Since then, there are 28 more households in temporary accommodation.

139 households were secured accommodation for six months or more and no longer threatened with homelessness.