A CHARITY working with the homeless is targeting a North-East town for help.

Shelter estimates 1,001 people found themselves homeless in Middlesbrough last year. The town is being blitzed with 20,000 leaflets promoting a free, national, 24-hour helpline (0808 800 4444) - and encouraging families having housing worries to seek immediate help.

Nearly 900 Middlesbrough families contacted Shelter for help last year. They faced homelessness problems ranging from rent arrears to complaints of poor housing.

The charity claims that in many cases those people asking for help were not aware of their rights and their problems could have been more readily resolved had they contacted Shelter earlier.

Shelter director Chris Holmes said the leaflets have already proved effective in reaching people in need.

Bradford and Bingley will meet the cost of the leaflets.

Shelter has a website: www.shelter.org.uk.