An outreach programme to help the homeless in East Surrey have secured a large boost in funding from the central government.

East Surrey districts and boroughs, among them Mole Valley, were awarded £131,440 to help fund the government's Rough Sleeper Initiative programme in the area.

Welcoming the news, Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) said that the extra funding would go towards six extra beds for people experiencing homelessness in East Surrey, including two in Mole Valley.

Extra funding for the extra funding for the East Surrey Outreach Service, provided by the Thames Reach charity in Mole Valley, Epsom and Ewell and elsewhere, was also announced.

Thames Reach help homeless people with specific needs in the area find decent homes and build supportive relationships.

"The new funding will support Mole Valley by giving more options for rough sleepers and ensuring our clients with complex needs get the extra support and additional budget they need through the East Surrey Outreach Service," Councillor Elizabeth Daly, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, said.

"Supporting people who find themselves homeless," she added, "is a key Community Wellbeing priority at Mole Valley."

"This boost of funding will allow Mole Valley District Council and our partners to improve essential services that benefit rough sleepers in Mole Valley and East Surrey."