A TEENAGER has spoken of the 'awful' accommodation he was placed in by Newport council after becoming homeless.

It follows a study which shows increasing numbers of vulnerable young people are being housed in bed and breakfast rooms and bedsits by local authorities across Wales.

Newport City Council has said it is reviewing its procedures as a result of the case.

An investigation by the Observer newspaper and BBC 5 Live has revealed the number of looked after children being placed in accommodation without live-in staff support has increased by 73 per cent in Wales between 2010 and 2018, from 75 to 130.

Meanwhile in England the figure has risen from 2,420 to 3,090 in the same period, as the number of children coming into care continues to rise in both countries.

The teen, whose first name is given as Dan, was given emergency accommodation in a bed and breakfast for two nights in June 2017, when he became homeless at the age of 16.

He was then moved in to a shared house where he says he was surrounded by drug and alcohol users.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live Investigates, he said: "It was awful.

"It was very dingy, the bathroom was disgusting, there were needles all over the place, drug user needles.

"There was a lot of noise, a lot of violence, police coming back and forth constantly.

"It was horrifying and I was very scared."

Newport council said Dan was given support while in the six-bedroom shared house, including help to apply for housing.

Referrals were made to social services by a housing officer and to the supporting people gateway service, the council said.

However Dan said he did not receive support and that he was left to rely on himself.

The teenager, now 18, was not in care at the time of being presented as homeless.

A spokeswoman for the council added: "Social services did subsequently give further support but we acknowledge that this should have taken place as soon as possible after he presented as homeless.

"Our procedures are being reviewed as a result.

"However, given the demands on suitable accommodation for individuals and families with young children who present as homeless, it is unlikely that the outcomes for Daniel in that emergency period after he came to the council for help would have been any different."

The council said Dan was moved in to supported housing for 10 young people in September, 2017, before moving into his own home 12 months later.