A £4m 'one-stop shop' for the homeless, with 42 bedrooms and a kennels, was officially launched today.

Leicester Council was marking the start of work on its multi-disciplinary centre (MDC), a scheme the council believes will place it at the vanguard of tackling homelessness.

The MDC will provide its `clients' with life skills, such as cooking on a budget and IT training.

There will be a doctor's surgery and advice on benefits, housing and education.

A kennels will mean residents do not have to be separated from their pets.

CCTV cameras and extra street lighting will also be included after residents living near the Conduit Street site opposed the development.

They said it would cause problems in an area already affected by anti- social behaviour.

The project was planned by the council, in association with local healthcare providers and the YMCA, because of concerns that its present shelter in New Walk was too cramped.