A NIGHT shelter to protect rough sleepers from the worst of the winter should have opened sooner and for longer says a former homeless man.

The shelter at Maggs Day Centre in Worcester was opened last Wednesday. Critics argue there was a case for opening it on Monday and Tuesday.

Only three rough sleepers used the shelter.

The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) kicks in when the weather is forecast to fall to zero degrees centigrade or below for three consecutive nights.

The Worcester News has seen a document from CCP, the homelessness prevention contractor for Worcester City Council, that notification that the shelter was opening was only received at 3.12pm on the day the shelter opened.

In the past organisations like St Paul's Hostel, the YMCA, Maggs Day Centre and police have been notified up to 32 hours before.

An email from Jane Chatterley at CCP says she had been waiting to hear from the city council about opening the shelter.

Hugo Sugg who campaigns on behalf of rough sleepers said: "This is disgusting and I don't know how rough sleepers would have had notice that it was open and be able to get to it."

Mr Sugg has been campaigning for 'justice for Cardon' following the death of rough sleeper Cardon Banfield who was found dead in a tent in Worcester on July 5.

Jonathan Sutton, chief executive of St Paul's Hostel said: "I, like many people, was quite surprised and disappointed the shelter wasn't opened on Monday and Tuesday given there was frost on the ground and it was bitingly cold. There needs to be care taken that people aren't injured or even worse on the streets."

A spokesman for Worcester City Council said: "A decision had to be taken relatively late in the day to open the night shelter, as the weather forecast changed.

"CCP officers went into action as quickly as possible to ensure rough sleepers had a safe space to sleep on a very cold night and outreach work was undertaken with known rough sleepers in the city to make them aware the shelter was open.

"Along with our partners, we are ready to put this service into action again when temperatures hit zero for three or more nights."