EMERGENCY packs containing basic necessities have been produced to help homeless. people in east Durham.

Several organisations have provided support and funding to produce the packs in the Easington district.

Councillor Joan Freak, Easington District Council's executive member for social inclusion, said: "There can be nothing more stressful than finding yourself homeless for whatever reason and the provision of these starter packs will go a long way to helping these people overcome their inital problems."

East Durham Homes, which is responsible for managing the district's housing services, deals with a significant number of applications from people and families who are homelessness, or threatened with homelessness, each year.

In the past financial year 808 applications were received from such people.

Of these, 160 were submitted by people aged between 16 and 19.

Coun Freak said: "People can find themselves homeless for a variety of reasons, including family break-up or domestic violence.

"For certain people and families found to be homeless, the council may have a legal obligation to rehouse them.

"However, in some instances, people can find themselves in temporary accommodation with little or no money.

"As well as trying to help them, these starter packs are to let people know somebody cares about them."

The packs, which have been produced with the help of Asda Peterlee, contain soap, towels, food, kitchen equipment, shower gel and other essentials.

They have been put together by the district's homelessness steering group, which is made up of representatives from the council, East Durham Homes, Easington Primary Care Trust, Housing Action North East and the Council for Voluntary Services.

The packs will be distributed to wardens, churches, Housing Action North East and community groups.

Coun Freak said: "I am delighted that, once again, Asda Peterlee is working in partnership with us to promote social inclusion."

She said she would also like to thank Easington Primary Care Trust, which had provided £1,000 to launch the initiative.

Coun Freak also paid tribute to the help and support of East Durham Homes, the Council for Voluntary Services, Easington Tenants' Federation and Housing Action North East