"There are enough facilities for homeless people in Brighton, but there would be less people begging in the town if these were better resourced and staffed."

This is the view of Irene Parry, the founder of Brighton's Homeless and Lonely Organisation (Halo), who has worked voluntarily with the homeless and the inadequately housed for 30 years.

Ms Parry has called on individuals and businesses who support The Argus campaign to stop begging in Brighton, to do more to help organisations like HALO, by making donations of cash, clothes and food, or to giving up a few hours of their time each week.

"I wouldn't give to beggars, I would tell them to come here. We give people free food and take an interest in them. If we got someone who was begging we wouldn't turn them away. The money they get from the DSS is the bare minimum.

"The people who come here are not necessarily roofless but they are rootless and without hope.

"They live in a bread-and-butter world so we try to improve the quality of their lives. We try to show them there's a better world out there, but it takes time to engender hope and trust in them. However, there are plenty of resources in Brighton.

"For example, soup is given out to people on the streets every night. But I would love to open longer hours and have more volunteers and food donations from supermarkets. Then I could do a lot more to help more people."

Although there are other groups like Halo where the homeless and inadequately housed can go to, such as the First Base day centre, in Montpelier Road, Hove, and at the Fitzherbert Day Centre, in Bedford Place, none are open every day of the week.

Halo opens during the day on Monday to Friday and on Sunday evenings, but Ms Parry would like to open every night.

The organisation is funded by a lottery grant, but this covers only the rent for St Peter's Church Hall and St Luke's Church Hall where the group meets, and for petrol for volunteers to pick up provisions.

Some money is raised through a Halo stall in the market, and the group relies on volunteers and donations.

Ms Parry believes an 'alternative giving scheme - in which members of the public can put money in secure boxes in shops, bars and restaurants to help local organisations like HALO, rather than giving money to beggars - is the kind of development that is needed.