Anyone who has walked the streets of Brighton and Hove will be surprised to learn that an official count last week found there were only nine rough sleepers.

But even that is a rise on the count in January when just six were spotted.

It's true that many people often considered as homeless such as Big Issue sellers often have some sort of shelter at night, inadequate and rotten though it may be.

But it's almost certain that many more people that cold night were hidden somewhere beyond the gaze of the team.

Official figures are not that important. What matters is the care being given to men and women who are homeless or near homeless. There are real signs progress is being made in providing hostels and supervised housing for them later.

Other people in housing need are being resettled successfully in areas where there is less housing pressure. But a look at the streets of the city shows there is still some way to go.