TAUNTON Deane MP Rebecca Pow has been to check out a former police cadet training centre that has been housing rough sleepers during the coronavirus crisis.

Ms Pow visited the Canonsgrove facility, which is normally used as student accommodation, but has been converted to take in vulnerable people through a partnership involving the Government, Somerset West and Taunton Council and YMCA Dulverton Group.

She saw how safe accommodation and meals, as well as a range of other services have been provided by a diverse partners including social workers, mental health services, the police, drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, the NHS, the Salvation Army and even the local post office and store.

Ms Pow said: "This is a superb example of a one-stop shop to help and tackle rough sleeping and the results are very encouraging.

"It demonstrates that through partnership working lives can in many cases be transformed.

"This could be a model for others to follow and I will be speaking to Rough Sleeping Minister Luke Hall with a view to establishing this as a permanent centre."