Charity workers helping the homeless have poured scorn on a council's count of rough sleepers.

Brighton and Hove City Council officials have revealed they found six rough sleepers on one night earlier this month, compared with 15 last autumn.

Previous surveys had shown about 40, one of the highest figures in the UK.

The annual counts have faced criticism because they only take the number of people found out on the streets at the time of the count.

They do not include people who have found shelter elsewhere for the night.

David Pavitt, who runs the charity Crossover, estimated there could be ten times as many homeless people.

He said: "It sounds to me like the council is trying to hit Government targets. I could find you six rough sleepers easily.

"I would say 60 would be a much more realistic figure."

He said many people had to live in squats or move between friends' houses.

Mr Pavitt's group, based at the Christian Outreach Centre in Portslade, provides clothing and food for homeless people.

A night cafe for homeless people has just been opened by the St Patrick's Trust project in Cambridge Road, Hove.

Ten people spent the night of January 16 there, the same evening council officials counted the six rough sleepers.

Father Stephen Sharpe, chief executive of the trust, said: "Our services are continually being stretched to the limits. We are looking for innovative ways of finding support for people."

The trust runs a 29-bed hostel and a 22-bed night shelter and is looking to provide 19 more beds across the city as "move-on housing".

An extra 117 bed places were provided at the night cafe over Christmas and New Year and all were taken.

However, Labour councillor Sue John hailed the council's efforts to reduce homelessness and the latest count.

She said: "This is a positive step in the right direction."

The council has been working with families to reduce the number of young people having to leave home.

Hove YMCA is also helping youngsters while Brighton Housing Trust is finding homes for people in areas of their choice outside the city.