The number of people seeking help for homelessness has fallen by more than a tenth, according to Scottish Government figures.

There were 9474 applications for homelessness assistance in the year to June - 11% lower than in the same period last year.

The fall is mainly due to recent housing options and homelessness prevention actions offered by councils rather than changes in the causes of homelessness, according to statisticians.

The number of people made homeless or threatened with homelessness fell by a tenth to 7649.

The number in temporary accommodation is up by 0.3% over the year to 10,494, but is about 6% lower than the peak period in early 2011 when temporary placements were in excess of 12,000.

There were 2821 households with children in temporary accommodation, a decrease of 14% from the previous year. These households contained a total of 4,574 children, a drop of 727.

The number of children in bed and breakfast accommodation has halved to just nine.

Housing minister Margaret Burgess welcomed news of the drop in homelessness.