HOMELESS people desperate for a roof over their heads this Christmas will be turned away from Bournemouth's only night shelter - unless they can prove links with the borough.

Leading homeless campaigner John Coulston has warned that new council "rules for rough sleepers" will mean many outsiders will be forced to sleep on the streets, running a high risk of attack and hypothermia.

The chairman of the homeless charity Michael's branded the regulations, which came into force this week, as "ridiculous".

He said: "Homelessness is a national problem. A night shelter is all about showing compassion and care to people in desperate circumstances, whether they are from Bournemouth or Newcastle.

"No matter where they have come from they are still human beings. Usually horrendous things have happened to homeless people before they end up on the streets.

"Many have been in care most of their lives, others have suffered terrible abuse. For some, the break-up of a relationship will have left them destitute."

Mr Coulston says scores of people are sleeping rough in Bournemouth squats, makeshift tents and graveyards.

"The number is likely to double when people from outside the area are denied emergency accommodation," he warned.

"With temperatures dropping and Christmas approaching it is a terrible time to find yourself without a roof over your head."

A council statement said: "People found sleeping rough who have a local connection will be helped with accommodation.

"Rough sleepers who do not have a local connection will be given help so they can return to other boroughs where they were previously staying and have links. Bournemouth council provides accommodation for rough sleepers at the local night shelter which is run by Bournemouth Churches Housing Association.

"People sleeping rough will continue to have access to the GP service at St Paul's Lane and the day centre."

Since the Bournemouth night shelter opened in September 2002 about 1,300 people have used the service - more than 40 per cent of those found sleeping rough did not have local connections.

Steve Thompson, the borough's head of housing and voluntary services, said: "The council aims to reduce the level of rough sleeping to as close to zero as possible."

Councillor Jean Moore, portfolio holder for Developing Communities and Tackling Crime, said: "We are rightly proud of the services we provide for rough sleepers and the single homeless and will continue to work with other organisations to help rough sleepers resettle."

First published: November 15