About 20 per cent of homeless young people in Brighton and Hove are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT), according to a new report.

A report on rough sleepers in the city shows a link between their sexuality and their homelessness.

It shows how LGBT young people are over-represented in the homeless population in Brighton and Hove.

The report is the result of interviews and surveys with 44 LGBT people, aged between 16 and 25, and 21 service providers.

The research reveals how two thirds of the LGBT group were subjected to bullying at school.

This led to truancy, exclusion or academic under-achievement.

None of them had received support from the school in tackling the bullies and none had received any sex education relevant to them at school.

Two thirds said they had attempted suicide.

Complaints were made about feeling isolated and unsupported in existing services in the city due to support workers' assumptions they were straight.

This, along with the fact that some preferred to sleep on the streets to avoid bullying from residents in temporary or sheltered accommodation, has been blamed for extending the length of their homelessness.

Mark Cull, senior Connexions adviser at Hove YMCA, carried out the project with Dr Hazel Platzer at the University of Brighton.

He said: "My biggest shock and disappointment was the number of young people talking about the bullying they had experienced at school and the fact that none could say the school supported them.

"The experiences they had at school and sometimes in the family home had a knock-on effect to their isolation, vulnerability and mental health.

"The majority of our findings has shown that their homelessness has been directly or indirectly linked to their sexuality or gender identification."

A hostel to cater for the group's needs is key to the report's recommendations.

Other recommendations include early preventative work including tackling homophobia in schools, mentoring, family mediation and support for young people who are truanting or excluded from school.

Specific training for housing service staff should also be provided to help alleviate earlier experiences of abuse.

Sensitive monitoring of sexual and gender identity should also be considered to help provide the appropriate support.