A COUNCILLOR has warned that the cross ferry port of Stranraer could

become a refuge for people trying to get home to Ireland from

recession-hit Britain.

Councillor William Scobie says that the town is in danger of becoming

a bottleneck filling with people unable to afford the last leg of their

escape route across the Irish Sea.

He says that in some cases people are sleeping rough in the town in

unoccupied garages, park benches, and even under cardboard.

''More and more single youngsters and people who don't qualify for

state help will be sleeping rough on the streets of Stranraer,'' he

warned.

Councillor Scobie is seeking assurances from Wigtown District Council

that #60,000 for additional resources for the homeless will not be cut

from the council's budget to keep within its spending limits.

Stranraer is in the constituency of Scottish Secretary Ian Lang, and

is one of the busiest ferry ports linking Britain and Northern Ireland.