More than 9,000 people will wake up on Christmas Day in tents, cars, trains and buses as a result of the UK’s homelessness crisis, a leading charity has warned.

Crisis said 9,100 people are “hidden” rough sleepers, in addition to 9,000 more who are sleeping on the streets and 120,000 who will spend the festive season in temporary accommodation.

The number of hidden homeless is set to rise further still, by 47 per cent to 13,400, in the next decade if nothing is done. It has already increased by 57 per cent since 2011, when the figure stood at 5,800.

The finding is based on research carried out by academics at Heriot Watt University.

Those taking shelter in tents and vehicles are often invisible to support workers, meaning they are less likely to be offered help with finding accommodation, healthcare and a job.

They are also especially at risk of violence, with homeless people 17 times more likely to be physically attacked and 15 times more likely to be verbally abused than someone who has a roof over their head.

Crisis warned of people being “hidden from help and trapped in horrifying situations”.

The charity’s shelters are expected to house 4,500 people over the Christmas period, with 11,000 volunteers helping to provide food and shelter.

Some of those forced to sleep on public transport or in tents told Crisis they feared for their safety after being the victims of violence.

One, named Benji, said: “I sleep in the buses, mainly because I can’t see sleeping in the street as… safe. It’s not safe because I have been harassed, I have been kicked. It’s really not a life. It’s like dying every day. It’s no life at all. It’s like hell because [you spend] most of the time alone. I don’t really have many friends. Most of the time is alone.”

Another, Paul, said he had been picked up in his tent and thrown over a subway.

“It was at Christmas time and everyone was going out getting drunk,” he said. “You get more trouble at Christmas, I believe, than any other time. It’s supposed to be a happy time.”

Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Show all 8 1 /8 Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Homeless this Christmas Janela, 27, is 27 weeks pregnant and lives in temporary accommodation with her six year old son. She works 12-hour night shifts in a packing warehouse in Birmingham. Shelter Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Homeless this Christmas Suleman works in IT and has been living in emergency accommodation since June 2014 with his wife and two children. His youngest, only 2, was born while they were living in the hotel. Shelter Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Homeless this Christmas Sarah*, 40, was living in one room in a B&B with her husband and children, including her three-month old baby: “We sleep on the bed, they play on the bed, we eat on the bed. There’s just no place for anything.” For her daughter Shauna*, 13, the shame she felt at being homeless impacted on her friendships at school: “I don’t tell them because in the end you can’t trust a friend…they could spread rumours about you. I can’t explain anything to anyone. I go to school with a smile on my face.” * Names have been changed to protect the individual’s identity Shelter Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Homeless this Christmas Maria* and her two daughters (15 and 5) lived in a B&B for more than 9 months, before being moved out of area in October. Her oldest daughter is a wheelchair user and had no access to a bath as the bathroom was on a different floor. Maria had to bathe her in a tub in the bedroom. * Names have been changed to protect the individual’s identity Shelter Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Homeless this Christmas Nicola and her three children have spent the last 9 months in temporary accommodation. She said: “We're so squashed in this cold, damp place. I say place because neither myself nor the children call this 'home'. It's full of mould and the kids are constantly ill from the damp. I'm trying to do the best that I can with what I have. I'm training to be a teacher, attending counselling sessions and trying to be the best mum I can to my babies but living like this is getting too much.” Shelter Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Homeless this Christmas Nathan, 28, has been homeless for three months, and until recently was living in a Travelodge on the side of a motorway with his 16-month old son, where he only had access to a kettle: “There’s milk and stuff, but there’s no microwave. It’s pretty hard to make food. I’ve got to get the jars and stick it in the kettle, and then put the kettle on to warm it up, so that’s the best way to feed him.” Shelter Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Homeless this Christmas For Geraldine, 45, and her 13-year-old daughter Hannah*, living in an emergency B&B has taken a huge toll on their mental and emotional wellbeing: “My daughter has felt very suicidal. I took her to the GP. They’ve referred her to the psychologist. She’s constantly breaking down crying. I had to take her to A&E on two occasions because she’s having problems, she keeps getting palpitations. She shakes.” * Names have been changed to protect the individual’s identity Shelter Shelter - Homeless this Christmas Homeless this Christmas Mariam, her two teenage sons and 4 year old daughter Zara were living in a B&B for nearly three months, before being moved to temporary accommodation in November. Both places have been extremely cold and Mariam is concerned for Zara’s health, as she suffers from asthma and anaemia. Shelter

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time for homeless people. While others are enjoying the company of family and friends, homeless people face a daily struggle just to stay safe and escape the cold.

“For those living in tents and on public transport this battle can last even longer, because they often end up forgotten, hidden from help and trapped in horrifying situations.

“The evidence we are publishing today shows how it is possible to end rough sleeping for good – we’re now calling on our governments to act on this, and make sure no one needs to end up in such dangerous situations in future.”

The charity has published a new report outlining the best policies for tackling homelessness, based on an assessment of initiatives around the world.

Theresa May appears to downplay seriousness of homelessness that is not rough sleeping

It proposes dropping restrictions on which homeless people are entitled for help, and acting swiftly to intervene as soon as someone begins sleeping rough. The most vulnerable homeless people should be given their own home and specialist support, the report says, with help tailored to address their specific needs.

The report was published days after a committee of MPs criticised the Government over its “abject failure” to tackle the “national crisis” of homelessness.

Minsters have promised to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and eradicate it by 2027.

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “We are providing over £1bn through to 2020 to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.