A campaign to help get rough sleepers off the streets has raised more than £150,000 in its first month.

The campaign was launched by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan when he installed 35 contactless donation points across the capital with the money going to a group of 22 charities tackling homelessness.

The donation points have already been used more than six thousand times and 24 more have been installed since.

Mr Khan said: “While many of us have enjoyed this festive period with our families, it is a national disgrace that so many people have spent it cold, frightened and hungry, without a place to call home.

“City Hall are doing all we can to increase services with the money we have got from the Government, and we are keeping up the pressure on ministers to stop ignoring the root causes of homelessness.

“I urge Londoners to keep donating, and to refer any rough sleepers they are concerned about to StreetLink, so they can be connected with the support they desperately need.”

Earlier this month emergency shelters for rough sleepers were opened across the capital.

Boroughs also signed up the ‘In For Good’ principle – a promise that when a rough sleeper goes to an emergency shelter, they will be accommodated there until a support plan is put in place to help them off the streets for good.

Greg Beales, campaign director at Shelter, said: “It’s fantastic to see the generosity of Londoners supporting people sleeping rough over the winter period.

“The money donated will help this coalition of charities provide vital support and services for people living on the streets.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has donated so far, this issue has never been more urgent and your money will help save lives.”