HOMELESS people in Oxford will be able to seek refuge from the cold as temperatures plummet to dangerous lows.

Rough sleepers in the city will be able to find warm shelter for the next couple of nights at least, after Oxford City Council extended its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP).

Anyone who needs a bed tonight or tomorrow night must present themselves at Homeless Oxfordshire’s O’Hanlon House between 9pm and 9.30pm, and they will be allocated a space in one of three main venues in the city.

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Temperatures are expected to drop to -3 degrees Celsius in the early hours of tomorrow morning, and tomorrow night Oxford is currently forecast heavy snow from 11pm. 

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SWEP launches when the Met Office forecasts overnight temperatures of zero or below for three or more consecutive nights.

It was activated on Monday and the three-day period extended after the weather failed to warm up. 

The city council runs the emergency programme in partnership with Homeless Oxfordshire, A2Dominion, Aspire and St Mungo’s, which runs the Oxford Street Population Outreach Team.

Free kennelling is also available for rough sleepers with dogs, but kennels must be arranged with OxSPOT in advance.

The council's deputy leader Linda Smith said: "With freezing temperatures set to continue and yellow warnings for snow and ice, we’re keeping emergency beds open until Friday morning initially.  

"We’ll decide whether to continue to keep SWEP beds open on Friday."

The council is providing up to 212 beds for Oxford rough sleepers this winter. 

It has won more than £1m from the government to provide extra beds and services this winter and next.

A group of Oxford churches are also providing 20 beds a night until the end of March, through the Oxford Winter Night Shelter.

Anyone concerned about a rough sleeper can contact OxSPOT on 01865 243229 to make a referral, or report them on the national StreetLink website or app.

If a rough sleeper appears to be in immediate danger, people are advised to call 999 instead.