Mini 'tent cities' in Hillingdon as councillors say they are struggling to cope

Mini 'tent cities' have sprung up in a West London borough where councillors say they are struggling to cope with housing thousands of asylum seekers. Hillingdon in West London had eighty-nine supported asylum seekers out of every 10,000 residents the end of December - or one in every 112. Councillors say they are £5million short of the funds they would need to support everyone asking for help - putting a 'huge burden' on taxpayers and local services. And with some of them deemed ineligible for housing support after leaving hotels, there has been a 'significant increase' in rough sleeping - with 'tented communities' spring up in parks and under bridges.