A total of 150 households across Shropshire are in temporary accommodation with the majority staying in local authority or housing association properties, figures show.

But the latest figures released by the Government, covering the period from July to September, show a 38 per cent decrease in the number of households in non-permanent properties compared to last year.

The figures, which cover both Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council, also show that the number of households accepted as being homeless and in priority need was 74 compared to 92 in 2008.

National figures reveal that the number of households accepted as homeless is down 28 per cent on the same time last year.

The number of those in temporary homes has also decreased by 21 per cent, the largest year-on-year decrease since 2004.

There are now 56,920 households in temporary accommodation with almost 90 per cent in self-contained accommodation.

Homelessness Minister Ian Austin said: “This continued reduction in homelessness is a testament to the hard work of local authorities and their partners, backed up by unprecedented Government investment.

“But we are not complacent, there is still a lot of work to be done. That’s why we have invested £220 million over three years in local authorities and the voluntary sector and this is proving integral in tackling and preventing homelessness.

“On top of this, the Chancellor announced further help for struggling homeowners by freezing the rate at which we pay Support for Mortgage Interest for a further six months, so that vulnerable families continue to get the help they need with their mortgage interest payments.

“Just one part of a comprehensive range of support that has helped more than 330,000 families stay in their homes.”

In the Shropshire authority area there were 80 households in temporary accommodation.

Of those 37 were in local authority or housing association stock while the next highest category was other types of accommodation such as private landlord, accounting for 27. Only two households were recorded as being in bed and breakfasts.

In the Telford and Wrekin area, 70 households were listed as being in temporary accommodation, 40 were staying in private sector accommodation leased by the council or registered social landlord. A further seven were in council and housing association stock but 23 were in bed and breakfast accommodation.