Around half of the people in the UK would not be prepared to pay more in tax even if they knew the money helped homeless young people, a survey has revealed.

An exclusive ComRes poll for The Independent showed that 46 per cent of the public rejected the idea of paying more to help fight youth homelessness.

It comes as thousands of young people are preparing to sleep on Britain’s streets this Christmas, a major problem that led to The Independent launching its Homeless Helpline Appeal.

The ComRes poll asked more than 2,000 people if they would be prepared to have more money taken from their income in tax if they knew it was going to help young people with no home.

Just over a third backed the idea – some 35 per cent – while 19 per cent did not know. The rest opposed it.

More than 150,000 16 to 24 year olds are approaching local councils in the UK every year to seek help because they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Meanwhile, research recently found that up to one in three young people seeking help to be housed from their local council are being turned away unaided.

Centrepoint has warned that some 25,000 young people could be at risk of homelessness, leading The Independent to join forces with the charity in a Christmas appeal for funds to launch the country’s first nationwide helpline for young people facing life on the streets.