In spite of assurances by government, rough sleeping by homeless people is still a significant problem in Britain's towns and cities say campaigners, following a head count in the nation's capital.

More than 200 people are still sleeping on the streets of central London despite policies to stop them bedding down which have included spraying them with water.

A voluntary organisation working with homeless people has found several hundred rough sleepers in Central London, challenging estimates made by both Westminster Council and central Government.

In the early hours of Tuesday 9 September 2008, volunteers from Christian charity Housing Justice counted 206 people sleeping rough in the London Borough of Westminster - highlighting the continuing seriousness of the problem.