FIGURES that show Greater Manchester has the highest number of homeless deaths outside London are shocking.

Figures from housing charity Shelter show that there were 50 deaths in the Greater Manchester area last year ­— ahead of the Midlands on 34 and Liverpool on 32.

There were 136 deaths in London in 2017 and the North West as a region had 119 ­— up from 55 five years earlier.

Of those deaths last year, 102 were aged between 42 and 49.

Drug poisoning, liver disease or suicide were the main causes of death.

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of homeless people and rough sleepers on the streets of Bolton who are vulnerable and it follows that the number of deaths will also increase.

As we have already reported this year, some of the familiar faces seen sleeping rough in the town centre have died, and many of the others have been the victims of attacks, as well as being exposed to the severe weather we have experienced.

READ MORE: Loss of life should be a 'national shame' 

This is the human cost of the homeless crisis which has been getting worse in recent years.

It is easy to dismiss figures about rough sleepers, but the scale of the problem is brought home when you see them in doorways and car park stairwells.

The issue has been covered at length in this newspaper and it is unacceptable that people do not have a proper roof over their heads.