A VICAR has called for Basildon to get its own homelessness centre after revealing churches were having to feed up to 25 rough sleepers around the town.

The Rev Esther McCafferty, from St Martin’s Church, in St Martin’s Square, Basildon, said there were growing numbers of people sleeping rough in the town.

She also criticised a recently-introduced dispersal zone to stop drinkers blighting Basildon’s town centre, claiming people need somewhere to go.

Her call comes as concerns were also raised about discarded heroin needles being left under bushes where homeless people are thought to be sleeping.

Basildon Council’s street cleaning team was ordered to clear under the bushes in St Martin’s Square over the weekend, after Labour councillor Pat Rackley was told needles were being dumped.

She also received reports of needles being left outside the Parklands Centre, in Gloucester Park, where drug dealing is understood to take place.

Mrs McCafferty warned these problems with alcoholics and drug users reflected the growing number of people sleeping rough in Basildon.

She said: “I support the introduction of a dispersal order, if it helps make the town centre safer.

“But it’s no good if there’s nowhere to move these people on to.

“Nobody else is doing anything about this problem other than the churches. We’re feeding 20 to 25 rough sleepers three nights a week, in the car park behind the church. We also give out sleeping bags and warm clothes.”

Mrs McCafferty explained she calls them rough sleepers rather than homeless, as some have homes, but don’t stay there because of personal problems.

She added Basildon desperately needs a rough sleepers’ night shelter, like the Homeless Action Resource Project, in York Road, Southend, where they could sleep and receive help applying for a council home or jobs. Frank Tomlin, cabinet member for housing, does not accept there is a homeless problem in Basildon.

He insisted the council only knows of three people who sleep rough in the borough.

He said: “In Basildon we do not have a high number of rough sleepers.

“We work with our community resource centre to assist non-priority homeless people in finding accommodation.

“We always act quickly to reports of drug paraphernalia being left in public places and regularly patrol known problem areas.”