Campaigners are planning to start a hunger strike outside the Scottish Parliament in protest at homelessness.

The group thought to number seven are demanding the government puts £40m of funding into tackling homelessness this year.

They want the cash from the Government’s £50m fund to be spent over five years.

One of the protesters, Sean Clerkin, has submitted a petition to Holyrood currently being considered by MSPs calling for the cash to be front loaded.

The Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart, however, has rejected the call but said the government was investing more than £20m in the Housing First model, which is being trialled in Glasgow.

Mr Clerkin said he will be joined on Monday by others including CND peace activist Brian Quail.

He has written to the local government Committee telling them of the hunger strike plan.

He said academic research from Heriot Watt University says that core homeless, sleeping rough, in hotels or sofa surfing is expected to rise in Scotland by more than 50% to 18,000.

He said: “We will be starting a hunger strike at 10am on Monday January 21 at the Scottish Parliament demanding that the Scottish Government spend up to £40m over the next financial year to tackle the homelessness epidemic on Scotland, in line with the petition.

“The Scottish government has spent more money on defending themselves in the Alex Salmond case, spending £500,000 than they have done for rough sleeper in the whole of Scotland for this winter only spending £370m. That is a disgrace.”

The campaigners said they intend to begin their hunger strike outside the entrance to the Scottish Parliament and will be staying overnight for as long they possibly can.

Mr Clerkin said the Scottish Parliament and the police have been informed of their plans.

Mr Stewart, said in his response to the committee he was investing £23.5m for rapid rehousing and up to £6.5m would go to a partnership with Social bite and Glasgow Homelessness Network and other partners to deliver Housing First for 800 people in five cities.

He said: “In our Ending Homelessness Together action plan we have clearly set out our ambition to make a significant shift towards rapid rehousing by default, including Housing First for those it is appropriate for.”