Rough sleeping in England has reached record levels - with figures showing an annual rise of 15%, representing a 169% increase since 2010.

It's no longer confined to London and the big cities - three quarters are outside the capital - and rough sleepers have been appearing in tents and shop doorways in towns where it seems unexpected and out of place.

Tom Davis, who was once homeless himself, founded a charity to convert a bus into temporary accommodation - a "bus shelter". The coach being turned into bunk beds for 16 homeless people was once a touring bus for Robbie Williams and his road crew.   As well as providing a safe bed for the night, the bus will provide an address, allowing people to sign up for GPs and health services. Tom says it will also help with one of the big unacknowledged problems for rough sleepers, the intense loneliness.

This rise in rough sleeping has shocked local people. Pam Williams, who chairs the bus shelter project, says she got involved because she was so upset when she saw homeless people appearing outside the train station.

The Annual rough sleeping count shows highest ever recorded level of 4,751.  Additionally, 14% of rough sleepers in England are women and more than nine in 10 are over the age of 25.

Read the full article about hearing the homeless by Sean Coughlan at BBC News.