Mike Barrett, chief executive of Kent-based homelessness charity Porchlight, said the council had to try to discharge its statutory duty to the homeless through the private rented sector.

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Further north, on Peckham Road, is the small but influential South London Gallery (SLG) and the Camberwell College of Arts, whose alumni include Mike Leigh, a filmmaker, and Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd's legendary acid-casualty guitarist.

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CNN's Ed Payne, Matt Smith, Mike Pearson, Jessica Yellin, Deirdre Walsh, Lisa Desjardins, Ted Barrett and Ashley Killough contributed to this report.

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