Hotels in central London will offer beds to rough sleepers to help protect them against coronavirus.

An initial trial will take place over the weekend, offering 300 rooms to vulnerable people known to homelessness charities.

The mayor's office is working with Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) to block book rooms, at a discounted rate, for the next 12 weeks.

Rough sleepers are significantly more likely to have underlying health conditions - including respiratory problems - than the wider population.

They are also far less likely to be able to follow Public Health England advice on self-isolation, social distancing and hand-washing.

The rooms will provide "vital protection" for rough sleepers who can use the space to self-isolate, the mayor's office said.

The news comes after Boris Johnson ordered all pubs, restaurants and gyms to close due to the pandemic.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "The coronavirus outbreak affects everyone in London and we must do all we can to safeguard everyone's health - not least those Londoners who face spending each night sleeping rough on the capital's streets.

"Rough sleepers already face difficult and uncertain lives and I'm determined to do all I can to ensure they, along with all Londoners, are given the best protection possible.

"Together, as a city, we will come through this incredibly challenging period."

Petra Salva, director of rough sleeping services at St Mungo's homeless charity, said teams are working round the clock to support people during the "unprecedented crisis."

Meanwhile, national homelessness charity Crisis has launched its In This Together campaign to raise funds to keep its services running during the pandemic.

The charity has set up an emergency grants scheme to help other homelessness charities across Britain, such as night shelters, continue to deliver vital services.

Crisis chief executive Jon Sparkes said: "The generosity and resolve of the British public at this time is inspiring.

"Now more than ever we value donations to keep our front-line services running and to support smaller, local homelessness charities with their emergency response in these unprecedented circumstances.

"We know that with the public's support we can protect people facing homelessness from the worst effects of this outbreak."

Mr Sparkes commended City Hall's collaboration with the IHG, but said more must be done.

"We are pleased the Mayor of London is taking these necessary steps, but with over 1,000 people sleeping rough in the capital tonight and many more in night shelters, well above 300 hotel rooms are needed," he said.

"We cannot overstate how urgent it is that every person who is homeless across Britain is given a safe, secure place to stay during the pandemic."

The mayor's office added it will continue to support a range of partners including London's boroughs and the Ministry of Housing to identify and help other rough sleepers.

Black cab drivers, meanwhile, have volunteered their services to help transport people between support available.

Steve McNamara, general secretary at the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said: "London cabbies have always been there to help those in need and this current crisis is no different.

"Black cabs are the right vehicles for this, designed to be easily cleaned and sterilised, with a partition separating passengers from drivers.

"I'm delighted so many black cab drivers have signed up, and that we are doing our bit to keep the most vulnerable people on our streets safe."