The number of homeless families living in temporary accommodation in Brighton and Hove is still one of the highest in the country.

While the number of people living in bed and breakfasts, hostels and other short-term accommodation has stayed level at about 680 since January, only larger cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds have higher numbers.

Figures released yesterday by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) showed that between April and the end of June, 211 applications for homeless status were accepted by Brighton and Hove City Council.

They are in a variety of types of accommodation, including bed and breakfasts in which 200 families were lodging in June - down from 219 last year.

Another 291 are being put up in private sector accommodation leased by the council, while 99 are living in council or housing association homes.

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper said: "The problem we've got is not new - there is a continuing lack of affordable accommodation.

"Brighton and Hove is an attractive place for people to live and there are increasing numbers of homes owned by second home owners and it's driving house prices up."

Brighton Kemptown MP Des Turner added: "This has been an enormous problem in Brighton because of the intense shortage of reasonably costed housing in the city.

"If it's levelled out, I don't know that it's an achievement, it's just the way things work out - it's plateaued a bit but it's plateaued very high."

Nationally, the number of families in temporary accommodation has increased by nine per cent in the last year, reaching 99,380 at the end of June.

The trend is put down to social factors such as increasing numbers of one-parent families.

One in five cases arose from relationship breakdowns, while 40 per cent occurred because parents, relatives or friends were unable to continue to provide housing support.