Thousands of people across Kent are currently homeless, new figures reveal.

Analysis carried out by Shelter has revealed Dartford has the highest homelessness rate in the county, with 732 residents currently living in temporary accommodation.

Meanwhile, just six people in the borough have been found sleeping rough.

Reacting to the charity's findings, borough council officials stress they are "committed to supporting residents in many circumstances".

"Clearly any figure above zero is unacceptable and we continue to use additional funding to work towards ending rough sleeping in Dartford," an authority spokesman said.

"It is important to recognise that not all those who ask for help with housing may have long-standing connections with the town but we commit ourselves to support people in many circumstances and we are proud of our housing team's work.

"We take our housing work incredibly seriously in Dartford but the causes of homelessness can be complex and we focus on finding long term solutions for people."

Shelter says one in 158 people in the borough are currently homeless.

The rate is the seventh-worst in the South East, and the highest in the county.

Meanwhile, one in every 166 people in Swale are without a home.

The charity estimates almost 27,000 individuals - including more than 12,000 children - are homeless in the South East.

It has now issued an urgent appeal for public support as it predicts the crisis to worsen this year.

Chief executive Polly Neate said: "A cold doorway or a grotty hostel room is not a home, but this is reality for too many people today.

"A cold doorway or a grotty hostel room is not a home..."

"Our frontline advisers are working tirelessly to help people who are desperate to escape homelessness - from the parents doing all they can to provide some shred of a normal family life while stuck in an emergency B&B, to the person terrified of another night sleeping rough.

"With private rents and living costs continuing to soar, thousands of people are not just facing a winter of worry, they are at risk of losing the roof over their head.

"More than ever, we will be relying on the public’s generosity to help us support and campaign for all those fighting for a safe home."

In Swale, more than 900 people are living in council temporary accommodation, while six have been found sleeping rough.

Across the South East, one in 346 residents are without a home. In all 450 people are sleeping rough across the region and 25,940 are in temporary accommodation.

The number living in temporary homes has risen across the country by 74% in the last 10 years.

Shelter argues this has been driven by a shortage of social homes as well as an over-reliance on private renting, which can be expensive and unstable.