A emergency weather provision has been activated over the festive period.
Somerset Council’s Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) will ensure rough sleepers can access emergency accommodation from Christmas Eve to 5 January to prevent harm or death due to the severe weather.
The response is used by many local authorities when there is a forecast of 0C or below. A cold health alert has been issued, external for the South West from Christmas Day to 27 Sunday.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Please help to spread the message that suitable accommodation may be available for rough sleepers during the severe weather over this Christmas and New Year season.”