A NEW law requiring councils to intervene earlier to prevent homelessness is due to be introduced.

However a charity has warned it should not be considered a 'cure-all'.

The Homelessness Reduction Bill aims to stem the 'rising tide' of people living on the streets by giving councils a legal duty to provide meaningful support to resolve housing issues.

The Bill, introduced by Conservative MP Bob Blackman, requires authorities to provide new homelessness services to all those affected, not just those protected under existing legislation.

Cllr Stuart Hirst, the leader of Ribble Valley Council, has welcomed the new law and said his borough is already doing 'all it can'.

He said: "We run The Joiners Arms hostel in Clitheroe and work with housing associations across the area.

"We are in a good position and don't have anything like the problems some of the major metropolitan areas have so we are lucky in many respects.

"The council is doing all it can to support those who have become homeless."

Charities including Centrepoint, Crisis and Shelter have called on political parties to pledge to stop rough sleeping in their manifestos ahead of the election in June.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “The Act is a crucial step forward in fighting homelessness.

“For 40 years we’ve had a system that fails too many homeless people by turning them away from help when they need it most.

“But this Act is by no means a cure-all and we are calling on all political parties to commit to ending rough sleeping in their upcoming manifestos.”