PLANNERS in London want to move thousands of homeless people to the North-East.
The plans have come to light after the Government ordered every borough in London to complete a housing strategy.
Desperate London councils, which must find housing for 50,000 people in temporary accommodation, have hit on relocation to the North as a possible solution.
Councillor Brian Salinger, of Barnet Borough Council said the authority would look at moving people to Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Wakefield and other North towns and cities.
He said: "I know Croydon Council has had coachloads of people going to the north to see what is on offer, and every borough is looking at it.
"Nobody is forcing anybody to go anywhere, or any council to take anybody.
"However, it seems crazy to have people with no accommodation and yet have empty houses elsewhere."
Homeless charity Nightstop Teesside said the known scale of homelessness in Cleveland was already too high.
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