Newton Faulkner strummed and sang from his collection of hit songs yesterday near Liverpool Street station, to raise awareness about rising youth homelessness in the capital.

The issue is particularly concerning as young people sleeping rough are especially vulnerable to vice and abuse...

Staggering new figures show rough sleepers in London under the age of 25 have doubled in the last year. There were 638 rough sleepers in 2011/12 compared with 247 in 2010/11, according to new research.

The charity Broadway revealed rough sleepers under 25 in London have increased 158 per cent in the last year...

The number of homeless young people in England has been rising for several years. National statistics last year recorded a 15 per cent increase.

Rising youth unemployment and economic pressures are thought to be responsible with the number of homeless households headed by young people also on the rise...

Young people 16-24 accepted as homeless by local authorities has been growing, for instance. And there are thought to be about 80,000 young people experiencing homelessness in a year in the UK.

Singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner sang songs from his hit collection in Broadgate, near Liverpool Street Station in London on July 18.

The singer said: "Thousands of young people sleep rough every day because they have no other option, many of them not much younger than me...

"I hope to raise awareness for Centrepoint and get people either joining our event or lending their talents as mentors..."

The singer, whose album 'Write it on your skin' is currently number one in the UK charts, was also keen to promote Centrepoint's big Sleep Out, which takes place on Thursday, November 8...

The Sleep Out offers London City workers the opportunity to sleep rough next to celebrities and experience a slice of reality as experienced by the tens of thousands of young people suffering homelessness each year.

Centrepoint hopes 850 people will join in the event in Exchange Square, Broadgate and raise £250,000 to support young homeless people over Christmas and New Year...

Last year the event saw 650 people sleeping rough for one night, including footballer David Ginola, raising £230,000 for homeless youngsters...

This year the charity is also running national Sleep Out events.

Other public figures to have taken part in the Sleep Out initiative include X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson, DJ Sara Cox, presenter Richard Madeley and actor Christopher Biggins...

Centrepoint's annual appeal is aimed at raising funds to help vulnerable young people find safe independent accommodation; as well as long-term support for education and employment...