ALMOST one in four people sleeping rough on the streets are former British soldiers, sailors and airmen, according to Government research.

Ministers, alarmed by the scale of the problem, last night unveiled plans to cut dramatically the number of ex-soldiers sleeping rough.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon was in the region to launch a pilot scheme targeting people about to leave the forces, who are feared to be among the most vulnerable to becoming homeless.

The Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services (Spaces), an innovative project based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, is to act as an accommodation placement agency for single service personnel about to leave the forces.

The centre will provide housing and financial advice to former soldiers and, if successful, similar projects could soon be seen at every Army garrison across the country.

The project, run by the English Churches Housing Group, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, will focus on preventative work and early involvement with members of the forces.

It was launched after Government research, backed by the Big Issue's main regional office, showed that about 25 per cent of people sleeping on the streets have a forces background.

Experts say many service personnel join the forces to escape from difficult backgrounds and, when faced with leaving, often find they have nowhere to go and cannot return to families.

Mr Hoon said: "I welcome the opportunity to be involved in this project. It will be an important contribution to the Government's initiative to reduce the problem of rough sleeping.

"I am committed to ensuring that those who have served in the Armed Forces are treated with the respect they deserve."

Head of the Government's rough sleepers unit, Louise Grey, who has the target of reducing the number of people sleeping rough by at least two thirds by 2002, said: "We are delighted to be funding this scheme, and working in partnership with the Armed Forces in recognition of the difficulties faced by many when they leave the forces.

"As well as helping those sleeping rough tonight, we must prevent a new generation of tomorrow's rough sleepers.

"This is why the Government is targeting help on those leaving prison, the Armed Forces and children leaving care, to ensure they do not end up in a doorway."