Civic chiefs in Weymouth have expressed their delight over plans to eradicate rough sleeping within the decade but stressed that any funding must be carefully managed.

It comes after Communities Secretary James Brokenshire pledged £100m to tackle homelessness.

Part of the funding will see £30m will be spent on mental health treatment and support for those with addictions and £50m for homes for people ready to move on from hostels or refuges.

Mr Brokenshire said: “It is simply unacceptable that people have to sleep on the streets and I am determined to make it a thing of the past.

“Whether people are at risk of rough sleeping, already on the streets or in need of settled accommodation, we have a solid plan to help the most vulnerable in our society.”

The announcement comes after government figures revealed that Weymouth and Portland had the highest percentage of rough sleepers in the county.

In 2017, there were 18 people sleeping rough in the borough, compared to 11 in 2016 – a 60 per cent increase. Meanwhile, in 2011, the number was just 2.

Assistant Pastor Fortunatus Franklin, from the Prayerhouse in Weymouth which helps to provide support for rough sleepers and the vulnerably housed, added: “If more funding means more help, then that is good.”

Pastor Franklin said that the majority of his clients suffering from mental health problems so the specific funding to tackle the issue would help.

However, Pastor Franklin raised concerns about the £50m pledged for new homes stressing that most people in Weymouth did not want to move on and just wanted occasional support.

Council Leader Jeff Cant added that any new funding was good news but stressed that it “must be carefully managed”. He added: “It’s very easy to confuse the needs of people who are making lifestyle choices and those who are suffering from an addiction.

“It’s a problem as we have had people who live in a nice flat in Dorchester and that do not need help come down to Weymouth to beg along with travelling beggars who visit Weymouth during the tourist season to maximise their income.”

David Twomey, service manger for Julian House in Dorset, added: "We welcome the long awaited rough sleeping strategy and its focus on prevention and reduction.

"It is vital that vulnerable people receive the right support at the right time.

"In Dorset we work closely with the Local Authority and a broad range of committed partners.

"We hope that this announcement will enable a whole community approach to tackling rough sleeping which is a complex societal issue."

Councillor Gill Taylor, spokesman for housing on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “We welcome the announcement by central government today, we have got our eyes open for any funding that is around.

“The collaboration between agencies is essential, the council cannot do it on their own and we have got a number of ideas that we could spend the funds on.”

Shelter chief executive Polly Neate welcomed the strategy with the caveat more must be done to tackle issues around housing benefit and lack of housing.

She said: “This strategy is an important step forward in the fight against the rough sleeping emergency that’s led to people dying on our streets.

“But let’s be clear, this is a step forward and not a total fix for homelessness.

“We still need to tackle the chronic lack of genuinely affordable homes, deep instability of renting, and problems with housing benefit.”

“However, projects like Bus Shelter Dorset are very effective at telling the difference and helping those in real need.

“If we did get funding, I would like to see the money redirected to support charities and apply it in an appropriate manner to those in real need.”