The Scottish Government has welcomed statistics showing a fall in the number of homeless households, but critics warned the figures showed more people forced to live in temporary accommodation.

Scotland's councils received 9,059 applications for help from homeless individuals and families from July to September last year - a fall of about 300 compared to the same period in 2013. But despite this there were 10,300 households in temporary accommodation, an increase on the previous year.

A report issued by Shelter based on freedom of information requests revealed that more than 2000 households spent over a year in temporary accommodation.

The charity said temporary accommodation varied widely and 60% of families - 22,000 households - spent some time in temporary lodgings, while local authorities looked for a permanent let.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: "Long stays in temporary accommodation are detrimental to people's health and wellbeing, particularly children, so it is very worrying that 1 in 10 homeless households spent more than a year without a home.

"We need to make sure that, where long-term stays can't be avoided, minimum standards of accommodation must be met. We want to see the development of guidance on minimum standards for all households in temporary accommodation."

He said a shortage of homes for social rent was the key issue: "We need to build at least 10,000 new homes for social rent each year for the foreseeable future if we are going to start tackling our housing crisis."

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations also said more new homes were needed.

Maureen Watson, SFHA Head of Policy, said: "The SFHA is pleased to see a reduction in homeless applications. However, the number of households in temporary accommodation has risen slightly. The fact remains that there is a chronic shortage of appropriate affordable rented housing across Scotland."

Jim Hume, Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesman for housing and health said temporary accommodation should not be used to ensure government homelessness targets were met. He said: "You don't have to live on the street to be homeless. Temporary accommodation cannot become a leaning post in efforts to meet homelessness targets."

The Scottish Government said it was "encouraging" that homelessness applications have fallen by 36% in five years.

Housing minister Margaret Burgess said: ""We are working closely with local authorities and their partners to prevent homelessness, increase the number of affordable homes and address the issue of empty homes."