Rough sleeping in London has hit the highest quarterly level since records began.

A total of 4,068 people were counted sleeping rough in the capital between July and September, according to latest figures, a 12 per cent increase on the same period last year.

Council chiefs warned London now faces the most severe homelessness challenges in the country, with an estimated 170,000 people now living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough. 

That equates to one in 50 residents of the capital, and one in every 23 children.

Darren Rodwell, London Councils' Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: "This spike in rough sleeping numbers is the latest evidence of London's worsening homelessness crisis.

"After several years of solid progress in reducing rough sleeping, it is devastating to see rough sleeping skyrocket to a record high. 

"Local support services are under immense pressure and the situation is spiralling out of control.

"Tackling rough sleeping requires a range of policy measures, as well as close partnerships between different agencies and long-term funding commitments for the frontline services keeping people off the streets. 

"The government must work with councils and other key partners to address these matters urgently, otherwise this winter looks set to be extremely bleak."

One of the key factors behind this increase is the recent rise in the number of people leaving Home Office accommodation (such as hotels) after receiving decisions on their asylum applications.

London Councils is seeking wider policy action to address these homelessness pressures, including an uplift in Local Housing Allowance housing benefit for low-income private renters, and a boost to Homelessness Prevention Grant funding for local support services.