Rough sleeping on the streets of Scotland’s biggest city has almost doubled in a matter of weeks, startling figures have revealed.

Campaigners say an explosion in the number of reported rough sleepers from 149 to 279 in just two months is a “homeless catastrophe” which could cost many lives this winter.

They are renewing calls for a cash injection from the Scottish Government to tackle the country’s housing issue.

The plea comes weeks after demands for a homeless emergency to be declared across the country, following moves from councils in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The Scottish Tenants Organisation said: “We have a homeless catastrophe in Glasgow with a massive rise in rough sleeping. More and better quality temporary accommodation has to be provided immediately to stop this carnage on our streets from happening.”

An investigation by the organisation found 279 people had reported rough sleeping in the three months prior to housing assessments with the council, between the start of June and November this year. The previous figure, between the start of June and September this year, had been 149.

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