A ROUGH sleeper died while staying at a church hall.

Essex Police and the ambulance service were both called to St Peter’s Church Hall in North Hill, Colchester, on Saturday morning.

Sadly, a man in his 40s was dead.

The man was one of the people staying at the church hall as part of the St Peter’s Guest House Project.

Working with housing charity Beacon House, volunteers have opened up the church hall overnight between December and February to allow up to a dozen rough sleepers a warm place to stay.

The project aims to ensure more people have a place to stay throughout the winter months.

Guests are offered meals in the evening and the following morning, as well as a place to stay while volunteers try to get to know them and help signpost them to suitable sources of support.

A statement on the group’s Twitter page confirmed what had happened.

It said: “Very sad to confirm tragic death of one of our guests at the Guest House Project.

“Apparently natural causes and no suspicion of foul play.

“Please pray for all affected, including other guests and volunteers.”

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.