Almost 100 people in Maldon will be homeless this Christmas, new estimates suggest.

Figures show 90 people are estimated to be homeless in Maldon this year.

Of these, 88 live in temporary accommodation – organised by social services, the council or themselves – including 48 children.

Meanwhile, two of the total homeless population are sleeping rough.

Nationally, around 309,000 people will be without a home this Christmas.

Housing charity Shelter's research shows the number of homeless people across England rose by 14 per cent in the last year.

It said the "housing emergency is out of control", and called on the Government to take the issue seriously.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: "Homelessness is on nobody’s Christmas list, but 309,000 people will spend this time of year in a tiny hostel room or freezing in a doorway."

Ms Neate blamed the housing emergency on "chronic underinvestment" in social homes, with people unable to afford rising rents.

"It is appalling that the Government has allowed thousands of families to be packed into damp and dirty B&Bs and hostel rooms, which are traumatising children and making people desperately ill," she added.

"Until the Government takes this emergency seriously, our frontline services will do everything they can to help people keep or find a safe home this winter."

In England, one in 182 people are homeless.

This is compared to just one in 736 in the Maldon district.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesman said temporary accommodation is "an important way of making sure no family is without a roof over their head", but councils must ensure it is temporary and suitable for families' needs.

Funding to address homelessness includes £1 billion given to councils to financially support people moving out of temporary accommodation.

"Through our Rough Sleeping Strategy, we will continue to work to end rough sleeping completely," the spokesman added.