ROUGH sleepers using shopfronts of an Oxford city centre stores could put tourists off from shopping, a traders’ leader has warned.

In recent weeks the homeless have used the former Solutions luggage store in George Street as a dumping ground for their possessions during the day.

The homeless also appear to be sleeping in empty shop doorways in Queen Street.

Graham Jones, spokesman for traders’ group ROX – Backing Oxford Businesses – said the situation in George Street, if it was not resolved, could have harmful effect on trade.

He added: “It is definitely an eyesore and it could put tourists off shopping – it’s right opposite the New Theatre where there have also been problems.

“This issue seems to be quite widespread across the city and it needs to be dealt with urgently by all the different agencies.”

A statement issued by ROX said Oxford had a ‘huge challenge’ to find ways to resolve the problem, which, at the moment, ‘does no favours for the appearance of our beautiful city centre or the rough sleepers themselves’.

It added: “It is important to distinguish between the organised and professional rough sleepers who can earn up to £200 per day tax free and all of the genuine homeless. Many of the sleepers have complex issues with which they are struggling.

“There are many homeless and health agencies involved in trying to find accommodation and appropriate support.

“However, the current state of affairs is unacceptable, with businesses daily having to clear up doorways of detritus before they can open their premises.”

Rough sleepers are also using the entrances of former Primark and Jones bootmaker stores in Queen Street.

Claire Dowan, chief executive of Homeless Oxfordshire, said: “There are drop-in services for the homeless they can use during the day, once they are registered.”

Laurie-Jane Taylor, the city council’s city centre manager, said the former Solutions building on George Street was owned by the council and would soon be boarded up as part of preparations for its redevelopment.

She added: “We are talking to the individuals using the entrances to this building as well as others on Queen Street to find ways of assisting them to move on to hostel accommodation, or connect them with services in the areas from which they come.”