Beds are already full at Walsall's winter homeless shelter

The venue at Darwall Street opened on Friday, November 29, providing 26 beds, but since then around 30 people have registered already.

Some of the existing beds have broken prompting a public appeal for support while it is feared there are more rough sleepers out there.

The shelter has also had to open as early as 2.30pm in recent days - opposed to the usual time of 8pm - amid the heavy snowfall.

The YMCA, commissioned to run the centre on behalf of Walsall Council, has also had to turn down people from Cannock, Wolverhampton and Birmingham who have asked if they are entitled to use the centre.

Despite the high demand the council has vowed no-one from the town will be turned away.

Fire inspectors have stated the property can accommodate up to 50 people, although many will have to be content with a place on the floor.

The site at Darwall Street, the council's former electoral registration offices, was chosen because it was bigger than last year's venue which was set up at the Glebe Centre in Caldmore. While this year it is open for three months instead of one.

Social care chief Councillor Diane Coughlan said: "Thank God we have got this shelter.

"The idea is that we could engage better with people this year and help to solve their problems like with housing.

"We have had people from Wolverhampton, Cannock and Walsall ringing up but we opened the shelter to solve our own problems.

"It is already at capacity but there is enough room for more. The fire safety officer has said it can take 50 people. We won't be turning people away."

Jean Garwood, night shelter coordinator, said: "We had 29 people in here on Sunday. We only have 26 beds but people are just happy to be inside.

"We do need more camp beds though because some have broke.

"I am not necessarily surprised at the demand I was aware homelessness in Walsall was high.

"In an emergency we could probably take it up to 30, and we are at that now more or less, and I know for a fact there are still people out there. Fifty, it would be very tight in here.

"But I know the council is actively working with service users to see how best they can help them seek housing."