Homeless in the West Country fear becoming the forgotten coronavirus victims

The coronavirus pandemic is infiltrating every part of society and the reality is beginning to grip the region's homeless, who have seen the usual safe havens close.

Their concerns include a lack of shelter, access to basic sanitation, fewer public donations now that the streets are empty, the availability of food.

In Exeter, the St Petrock's Centre, which provides local services to the homeless, had to shut its doors when staff showed signs of the illness.

The overriding challenge facing the authorities is to enable the homeless to practice social distancing and to isolate.

The Government has urged local councils to house all people sleeping rough by Sunday March 29, and to find alternative accommodation for those in hostels and night shelters in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

In Bath and Torbay, the local councils have made an appeal for those with empty guest houses and hotels to consider offering rooms to the homeless.

Exeter City Council is just another that says it is doing all it can to alleviate the problem.

West Country charity PATH says that practicalities of social distancing measures make it difficult to carry out their work.