Council award for homeless work

A council has been given a government award after homelessness fell by almost 50% in a Nottinghamshire town.

Mansfield District Council, Housing Service was named regional champion by the Department of Communities and Local Government for tackling homelessness.

The authority has reduced the number of homeless applications from 1018 in 2005/06 to 539 in 2006/07 - a reduction of 47%.

The council will now offer help to other authorities in the East Midlands.