Church of Scotland parishes have been asked to raise £100 each to help a charity for homeless Scots in London, following the loss of Scottish Government backing.

The names of homeless people who have died over the last year in London have been read out at an Annual Service of Commemoration.

The Methodist Church has condemned plans by Westminster City Council to ban rough sleeping and soup runs for the homeless as "disgusting" and "absurd".

With temperatures unlikely to rise much above freezing, the plight of the country's thousands of homeless people has been highlighted by charity workers, who are urging local authorities to step up relief efforts.