Reporter Mike Cotton decided to spend the day in the shoes of a beggar to see how people in Barnsley town centre would respond.

It took less than five minutes of sitting on a bench asking people if they had 'any spare change' before I felt almost invisible, and very sad.

Nobody should have to beg on the streets of the town centre because Barnsley, thankfully, seems to have the homelessness situation fairly well under control.

But still some people do it. Homeless charities say they know people who have lived outside in Barnsley for days, weeks and even months.

I perched on a bench under the 'mushroom' on Cheapside to shelter from the rain on Wednesday morning, asking anyone who passed within a few feet if they could spare anything.

I held a dirty mug out towards the passing crowds.

I counted, and within one hour, I had asked 150 people. Most ignored me and kept their eyes straight ahead.

Some turned to look at me and quickly turned away.

A couple apologised that they 'didn't have anything'.

Only one person put anything into the mug.

She was a kind-faced lady with long white hair and a purple coat. I caught her eye, and as she passed, asked: "Could you spare any change, please?"

She stopped on the spot, but didn't turn to look at me.

She rummaged in her purse, neither of us spoke.

She broke the awkward silence after what seemed like minutes, by dropping a handful of silver coins and a couple of coppers into the mug - £1.22, and said: "I'm sorry love, this is all I have."

In the fleeting glance she passed me, she looked genuinely sorry she didn't have more. She looked very sad that I was doing this - begging on the streets.

I'd been there nearly an hour, and had planned to stay for several more.

As it happened, a police officer came to move me on. Her superiors knew what I was doing and said they would tell officers to leave me alone, but the message clearly hadn't filtered down the chain of command.

I was only there for an hour, but it was enough to make me think hard about the people who don't have a warm house and a bath or shower to go home to.

The number of people telling the council they are homeless has fallen by more than half, from 770 to 341, in the last five years. The number of families recognised as homeless has fallen from 103 to 24.

But that will be no consolation to those who have nowhere to call home.

Barnsley Council has a 'no second night out' scheme. If people are sleeping rough they can visit the Civic, on Eldon Street, and get help from the council's housing officers.