Figures released towards the end of last week by the Government show that rough sleeping has risen for the seventh year in a row, and has increased by 169% nationally since 2010.

In Bath and North East Somerset, the increase has been even more stark, with a 278% rise from nine rough sleepers in 2010 to 34 people counted last year.

Deputy Leader of B&NES Labour Group, Councillor Joe Rayment (Labour, Twerton), said: “It’s time for the Tories to take responsibility for this crisis.

“The decisions that they have made, since they came to power in 2010, with the help of the Liberal Democrats, have led to more and more people every year being forced to sleep outside.

“The failed austerity project, the refusal to build enough truly affordable homes, and a whole host of other catastrophic policy decisions have led to this situation.

“If they won’t deal with it, then they have a responsibility to the people of this city and this country to step aside and let someone else sort it out.”

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, said: “These shameful figures are a terrible reminder of the consequences of a Conservative Government.

“The number of people sleeping rough fell under Labour but has more than doubled since 2010, and is up for the seventh year in a row under the Tories.

“This is a direct result of decisions made by Conservative Ministers: a steep drop in investment for affordable homes, crude cuts to housing benefit, reduced funding for homelessness services, and a refusal to help private renters.

“A Labour government will end rough sleeping within its first term in office, and tackle the root causes of rising homelessness.”

Councillor Paul Myers (Conservative, Midsomer Norton Redfield), Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration, said: “The Council takes the issue of rough sleeping very seriously, and even one person sleeping outdoors is one too many.

“I am therefore saddened to see that the most recent count found a rise in rough sleeping, despite the range of dedicated support the Council and its partners provide for homeless people in Bath and North East Somerset.

“We will be working closely with service users and providers to develop further opportunities to help these individuals off the streets, and will be continuing to offer more individually targeted support and help for those identified as sleeping rough in the area.”