THREE host households have been recruited by a new support group to give shelter to homeless young people in Wyre Forest.

They will provide emergency accommodation for 16 to 25-year-olds who find themselves homeless.

Project co-ordinator of Nightstop, Sally Perks, said a lot of progress had been made since the national organisation decided to set up a branch in the district after a survey discovered 45 young homeless people in Wyre Forest over a four-week period.

A display promoting the service in a bid to attract more helpers opened at Kidderminster Library yesterday and will run until Monday, March 7.

Nightstop is looking for more host households, people who would like to make donations of cash or items such as toiletries, and anyone interested in joining the management committee, especially someone with accounting skills, to take on the role of treasurer.

A training day for the three householders is being held today and Nightstop aims to start taking referrals within the next couple of months.

The project is expected to cost £30,000 a year to run and apart from the paid co-ordinator the rest of the helpers are voluntary.

Householders who wish to take part must have a spare room and agree to a police check. They will receive initial and ongoing training and be paid expenses.

Nightstop, which is currently seeking charity status, is funded by Wyre Forest District Council and Community Against Drugs.