THE number of rough sleepers in Worcester has increased 19 per cent in just five years, figures have revealed.

Worcestershire County Council has admitted the city has seen a 'spike' in homelessness since the turn of the decade - despite falls elsewhere.

The stats show that across Worcestershire, at least 40 people have been recorded as sleeping rough at any one time - with the highest recorded figure standing at 61 back in 2012.

Worcester is the county's biggest hotspot for homelessness, with the city's figure rising from just seven at the start of the decade to 27 in 2015.

Worcester's increase comes despite the overall rate of rough sleepers falling seven per cent during that time frame, although the figures are based on searches during selected evenings through each year.

The data has been unearthed following a written question to Councillor Lucy Hodgson, County Hall's cabinet member for localism and communities, from the opposition Labour group.

But the release of the stats have sparked controversy, with Labour's group leader Councillor Peter McDonald calling it "a joke".

"Everyone can see how in recent years the amount of rough sleepers has gone up across the county," he said.

"But if you don't go searching properly for it, you can say it's not really there - let's get in the real world.

"The life expectancy for people sleeping rough is only about two years, it's terrible, I would say one is too many."

It comes after a homeless man was found dead in a tent by the riverside in Worcester last summer.

Cllr Hodgson said: "The increase in rough sleeping has not been uniform across Worcestershire, with increases and decreases across the five years in individual districts.

"The total numbers of rough sleepers in Worcestershire has remained fairly static in the low to mid 40's with a considerable spike in 2012."

She also stated that 2016 did see a "significant decrease" in rough sleepers both in Worcester and Worcestershire, but the data has yet to be verified.

It comes as Worcester City Council agreed a £35,000 shake-up of the system for tackling rough sleepers, known as 'Making Every Adult Matter'.

It means greater access to hostels and an effort to expand the facility in Park Street to provide more facilities, with the cabinet agreeing the change in approach this week.

Earlier this month the county managed to secure a £390,000 grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government to pump into homelessness.