Braintree's MP is intending to reduce most the nation’s homelessness once he stands down at May’s General Election.

Brooks Newmark, who has been MP for the town since 2005, agreed that he would not stand for re-election to Parliament following a sexting scandal involving an undercover reporter for the Sunday Mirror last year.

Dad-of-five Mr Newmark, who initially said he would remain as Braintree’s MP after the sting was revealed but later decided to step down, intends to change how the Government deals with homelessness.

Over the Christmas period, he spent time talking to homeless people by volunteering with the Braintree Salvation Army on Christmas Day and homeless charity Crisis in London.

He said: “It will take some time but I want to write a really good report on the state of homelessness in the UK and then I want to cost the solution to it."

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.