IT is one of the biggest concerns of campaigners that calculating the extent of homelessness is virtually impossible.

A recent survey carried out by Darlington Borough Council, together with charity groups, identified 19 rough sleepers in the town but the "hidden homeless" numbers remain a mystery.

Although concerted efforts - with several agencies working together - are now being made to swiftly resolve accommodation crises, determining how many homeless people are out there is not an exact science.

Hedges, car parks and derelict buildings are all used as a place to sleep, as are friends' homes, garden sheds and cars.

The lonely spot behind Wilkinson's store, in East Street, Darlington, where alcoholic Terry McGann's body was discovered, was still accessible last night, though albeit uninviting.

Several organisations in the town offer support and guidance - the Salvation Army, the 700 Club, First Stop, Nightstop, the YMCA and the council's housing department. But, despite the level of support, there are strong demands for more emergency accommodation to be made available, something First Stop could provide soon at its Tubwell Row premises.

Chief officer Karen Grundy said: "It would be unfair to say we haven't done enough in Darlington, but we need to do more.

"Many of our clients will come back to us time and time again, often on a daily basis."

The ever-growing area of concern is the 16 to 25 age group, which makes up 42 per cent of the group's clients.

Drug and alcohol addiction is commonplace in that number and youngsters are a large part of the town's hidden homeless.

Later this year, a £1m housing complex for recovering drug and alcohol addicts is due to open near the town centre - but it will be a small step on a long journey.

Mrs Grundy said: "That will be a great boost, but it still leaves a large section of the community who will find it really difficult to get accommodation."

Sue Woolhouse, of the Nightstop charity, which allows needy people into the homes of volunteers, said it was unable to take youngsters with such problems.

"We get a lot of referrals but we can't take them because they have got drugs and alcohol problems," she said.

The 25 to 35 age range also represents a large amount of the charity's work, with the street homeless figures tending to be made up of middle-aged men.

A council spokesman said: "The Government has clear guidelines for helping homeless people and we take each case on its merits, treating everybody who comes to us as individuals."