Homeless people could be told to get online to find accommodation.

Arun District Council is considering providing internet access in all its reception areas to help tackle homelessness.

The council says homeless people should have more access to information about where there are empty houses across England.

The proposal will be put forward in a report to Arun's ruling Cabinet on Monday.

Councillors will be told radical steps need to be taken to reduce the pressure on temporary housing in the district.

The council is paying for 34 families to stay in bed and breakfast accommodation because no other temporary places are available.

Les Goodwin, Arun's head of housing policy, said: "While councils in the South-East are struggling to cope with increasing numbers of homeless families, in other parts of England there is a crisis of empty properties.

"Not surprisingly, this has led a number of councils in the South to explore the possibility of referring homeless families to areas where there are empty properties.

"It is suggested the option of accommodating families in other parts of England should be explored in more detail and all applicants be advised of the wider availability of accommodation in these areas."

Arun councillors were warned at the end of last year they would have to increase their spending on bed and breakfast accommodation because of a lack of private rented housing.

Monday's meeting will be told pressure on using this type of accommodation could be eased by taking on more houses from the private sector on a leased basis.

Mr Goodwin said: "This would enable the council to benefit from changes in subsidy rules and provide a much better standard of accommodation than bed and breakfast."

Councillors will also be told new laws require them to give greater priority to homeless families for permanent accommodation within the council's own stock.

Mr Goodwin said: "This represents a fundamental change to the way in which this council has allocated its accommodation and will be perceived by many as being unfair but will be a requirement when the new Homelessness Act is implemented."