Young homeless people in the capital are being given bus tickets so they can sleep on board the vehicles at night.

Charity staff are distributing the tickets along with advice about the best routes to take around London to stay safe.

Their decision comes as the number of people sleeping rough in the capital increased by 55 per cent in the last five years, according to Government data.

Young homeless people in the capital are being given bus tickets so they can sleep on board the vehicles at night. Above, a stock photo of a London bus at night

New Horizon Youth Centre, a charity that helps people find emergency accommodation, said the rise was due to increases in rent and a reduction in the number of hostel places and benefit payments.

Shelagh O'Connor, director of the charity, told the Guardian young people are safer riding the buses than on the streets.

She said: 'We tell them which routes to choose, so that they will be travelling around all night.

'It is a dire situation. It has never been as bad as this - I am extremely worried.

'It is so difficult at the moment and I can't see any new strategies being put in place that might improve the situation.'

Ms O'Connor added that the charity used to be able to find emergency beds for everyone, but now were only able to for around 50 per cent of people.

The decision comes as the number of people sleeping rough in the capital increased by 55 per cent in the last five years, according to Government data (posed by model)

The YMCA, another charity supporting young people, added that in 2014 nine out of 10 of their centres had a waiting list while others had to turn people away.

Denise Hatton, the chief executive of YMCA England, said: 'It is becoming increasingly challenging for individuals to find somewhere to move on to after supported accommodation.

It is a dire situation. It has never been as bad as this - I am extremely worried. Shelagh O'Connor, director of the New Horizon Youth Centre

'In a recent study conducted by YMCA England, more than half (56 per cent) of supported accommodation residents surveyed felt they were ready to move on from YMCA but were currently unable to do so.

'In addition, one in five said they had been ready and looking for somewhere to move on to for more than six months.'

The news emerged as the number of children living in temporary accommodation reached nearly 100,000.

More than 66,000 people were also registered as having no home of their own at the end of June, with the figures not including rough sleepers.

A Transport for London spokesman said: 'We are aware of the issue of homeless people on the bus network.