A CHRISTMAS action campaign to end homelessness in Bolton will be coming to the town centre this weekend.

Protesters are aiming to highlight the extent of homelessness in the borough and the need to renovate the thousands of empty homes across Bolton.

The event — taking place in Victoria Square from 11am on Saturday — is organised by Bolton Against Bedroom Tax (BABT) and will feature numerous stalls and supporters, including Bolton Trades Union Council (TUC), Greater Manchester Housing Action Group, and Friends of the Earth among others.

The campaigners will be singing anti-bedroom tax-themed Christmas carols and there will be speeches from guests including Yasmin Qureshi MP .

The Green Party’s Alan Johnson, Ian Hodson from the Bakers’ Union, and Martin McMulkin from Bolton TUC will also be speaking at the event.

BABT members have been embroiled in a row with Bolton Council this year over the number of rough sleepers on Bolton’s streets, after official figures claimed that there are an average of just eight per night.

The campaigners have estimated that the actual number could be as high as 40 or 50.