An unexpected rise in the number of homeless people on the streets of Aberystwyth has led to fears of people “dying in doorways” this winter.

Aberystwyth county councillor Mark Strong says he has seen an increase in the number of people sleeping rough in the town, and feared that could lead to deaths during the winter.

While Aberystwyth has a night shelter, operated by Ceredigion Care Society, Cllr Strong said the facility is often full, leaving some people with nowhere to go.

Ceredigion County Council confirmed that the number of people sleeping rough is higher than anticipated this year.

Cllr Strong praised the work done by charities who he said were struggling to attract enough funding to help those in need, and blamed austerity imposed by central government.

He said: “The message I’m getting from people on the street is that capacity in the night shelter is frequently full.

“My fear is that if emergency accommodation is full then people who are increasingly on the street are potentially facing death this winter.

“I’ll be stark and say that a direct consequence of lack of money due to austerity is increasingly likely to bring the result that the Cambrian News will end up reporting deaths in doorways in our town.”

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