YORK Arc Light centre for the homeless reached a unique double milestone today -by opening its doors 24 hours on the same day it clocked up 40,000 "bed nights."

The centre, which opened in December 1999, was once staffed on a night-by-night basis.

But the new, 24-hour opening means its staff level, full and part-time, is now up to 18.

In that time the centre has hosted hundreds of guests, with the "bed night" figure referring to a guest staying at Arc Light for one night.

Manager Jeremy Jones said: "It is fantastic news, there is a real atmosphere of excitement at Arc Light.

"This will take things into a completely new area. It is incredible to think that just over three years ago Paul Wordsworth and I were struggling to staff it on a nightly basis, and now Arc Light has grown into a major organisation on homelessness in York."

Mr Jones said Arc Light staff and guests are looking at ways the centre can be developed once 24-hour opening is fully up and running. He said: "We are looking at innovative links with the community and other agencies. This place is all about confounding expectations, we are looking at ways of confounding the expectations of the community, and we hope to draw together all possible sections of it."

Funding for the centre and all 18 staff had been secured until April 2004, Mr Jones added.

Arc Light resident Brian Parker, who has been homeless for over four years, said today: "I'm out most of the day anyway and so are quite a few others but it's good to know the option is there if you want it."

John Walker, City of York Council project manager for homelessness strategy, said: "City of York Council welcomes this development, supporting its strategy for the prevention of rough sleeping.

"The council sees it as an important step to the development of services aimed at rebuilding lives and opening up opportunities for resettlement."

Updated: 15:47 Monday, January 27, 2003