Recent legislation could force asylum seekers in the UK to sleep rough over the new year, charities warned on Monday.

New laws, which come into force from January 8003, require refugees to declare themselves to the National Asylum Support Service at their entry point into the UK to secure emergency accommodation.

Those that fail to do so will need to be screened and approved before housing is arranged, a process that can take days.

Refugee agencies argue that the majority of asylum seekers, 5000 in September alone, only declare themselves once they arrive in the Britain. The charities claim that they will have to turn people away as a result of the clause in the legislation.

"We are appalled by these new measures which will throw thousands of asylum seekers into destitution and add to the chaos in the asylum system," said Fazil Kawani of the Refugee Council.

"The reality is that in the harshest winter month, they will be out on the streets while they wait to get documents from the Home Office which will entitle them to accommodation.

"It is a completely unacceptable way to treat refugees who may be fleeing for their lives or from traumatic persecution."

In 1996, a similar change was adopted by the Conservative government, leading to various organisations opening emergency shelters to cope with the increase in rough sleepers.

"This measure undermines the government's efforts to tackle rough sleeping. It is completely at odds with their commitment not to leave asylum seekers destitute," said Ben Jackson of the homelessness charity, Shelter.

"Many people seeking asylum will be worse off than they were under 1996 Conservative legislation which the Labour party opposed at the time."

Charities also argued that no decision had yet been announced on measures for young people and pregnant women.

"These measures will end the presumption of support for those who apply for asylum in this country unless they can give a truthful and credible account of their circumstances and demonstrate that they claimed asylum at the earliest opportunity," said a Home Office spokesman.

"If you are fleeing from genuine persecution, you will apply for asylum at the first opportunity you get."

Those with special needs or suffering a sudden change in circumstances would be unaffected, he said.