Churches in Richmond have joined together to open a new collective of night shelters.

The new shelters, set to open on January 15, will allow 20 rough sleepers to find a safe, warm space to sleep every night until homeless charity Glass Door’s winter season finishes on April 8.

Reverend Joe Moffatt, St Mary's with St Albans in Teddington, said: "Churches across the borough have reported a noticeable rise in homelessness.

“Statistically, we are one of the least deprived parishes in London, yet even here there is an increasing issue with home insecurity and hidden poverty.”

Seven churches are coming together to form a new circuit of shelters, with each church taking a turn one night of the week.

The churches that will be hosting the shelters are:

• All Saints East Sheen

• Christchurh East Sheen

• St Elizabeth’s of Portugal RC Church

• St John the Divine, Richmond

• St Marys with St Albans, Teddington

• St Matthias, Richmond

• Vineyard Life Church, Richmond

Reverend Brian Leathard, Glass Door's Chair of Trustees, said: “This is another encouraging example of how churches of different denominations [branches of Christianity] can work together to relieve suffering and make the community a better place for everyone.”

Glass Door, London’s largest emergency winter night shelter, also provide a hot dinner and breakfast in the morning, cooked and served by volunteers.

The Red Lion pub in Barnes recently donated 80 portions of hot beef stew to Rivercourt Methodist Church in Hammersmith, an existing member of the Glass Door project.

To find out more about the project, to or volunteer, visit glassdoor.org.uk