A GROUP of Polish rough sleepers bedding down in a car park have been found permanent homes.

The former migrant workers had attracted complaints to police and local councils for frequenting the West Hendford car park in Yeovil.

They had taken over one corner of it to sleep each night after losing their jobs and falling on hard times.

But working with the police and other agencies, staff at Yeovil Night Shelter have managed to secure the group beds at Barnabas House in Newton Road.

This means that all 19 homeless people who were known to night shelter staff and volunteers are now off the streets.

Shelter administrator Christine Mason said: "It's a really positive thing and workers at Barnabas House have been fantastic.

"The people sleeping in the car park were obviously very vulnerable there and finding them a home has been difficult.

"Barnabas will offer an aftercare worker too, so they can hopefully look forward to a better future, finding their own homes eventually and looking for work.

"This means that all of the people known to us have a secure roof over their heads, not just for one or two nights but for the foreseeable future.

"There will still be some homeless people who are not known to us yet or who don't want that kind of help and we will still be there for them."

The night shelter stopped offering dormitory accommodation in August after a change in government policy.

However, it still provides homeless people with clean and dry clothes, a hot meal and a shower.

Mrs Mason added: "Now we're not offering overnight accommodation any more I think we are actually offering more long-term help for those people.

"It has actually been a very positive change and we will be doing much more of that sort of work in the new year.

"It's a good direction to be heading in."