A SCHEME to convert double deckers buses into accommodation for homeless people could be helped along by the council and in action by the end of the year.

Campaign group Homes4All has begun exploring how buses may be converted into homeless shelters to aid the rough sleeping crisis in Oxford.

The scheme - modelled on something similar in Reading - would create beds for people with no local connection who currently do not meet the criteria for support.

Oxford City Council has been urged to get involved in the project and consider injecting £20,000 of its reserves or surplus cash to get it up and running.

A motion for the council to help the project will be put to councillors later this month.

Green councillor Craig Simmons, who submitted the motion, said: "On-going efforts to prevent the need for people to sleep rough on Oxford’s streets, there remains a large number of individuals in Oxford– namely those without an officially recognised local connection – for whom no immediate solution is available.

"The council should note the ambition of Homes4All to get their first bus up and running by the end of the year to be ready for this year’s cold spell and approve a budget variation of £20,000 funding."

The motion will be voted on at a meeting of full council at 5pm on November 27 at Town Hall.

For more information subscribe to the Homes4All Facebook page or email Homes4AllOxford@outlook.com