Justin Welby: The government must act to tackle 'shameful' homelessness

The Archbishop of Canterbury has called on the government to tackle the growing homeless issue in England.

Justin Welby told ITV News said it should be something "that touches all of us, in which we all participate".

He said: "We have to act and the government has to act.

"The idea that government somehow will go away and do it and we needn't worry, that we can enjoy Christmas because someone else will do it, is as shameful as letting the problem arise in the first place."

Read more: 1 in 4 homeless people to spend this Christmas alone

The Archbishop said it was an issue that needed to be focused on all year round, not just at Christmas.

It comes after new figures showed more than 100,000 people made a homeless application to their local council last year and nearly 3,000 sleep rough every night.

Homeless charity Crisis reported the number of homeless people has more than doubled since 2010 - and the average life expectancy of someone living on the streets is just 47.

Of those sleeping rough:

One homeless man told ITV News: "I just take every day as it comes, but it's hard. I worry all the time."

Another Carlos Blanco, who was homeless for several weeks last year, added: "When you've never asked for help it's difficult to ask for help.

"It's embarrassing. One of the things people used to say to me was, you don't look homeless. But just because I like to keep myself clean and tidy, it doesn't mean I'm not homeless."

To make a donation to Crisis this Christmas go to www.crisis.org.uk or call 0800 999 2070.