The founder of a charity for homeless and unemployed people said the economic downturn has led to a growing need for a drop-in centre in Epsom.

Graham Peddie set up the Pitstop centre, based at Leatherhead Football Club, in Guildford Road, more than 20 years ago to help vulnerable residents who become socially isolated.

He has watched it grow and now has up to 40 users a day who turn up from as far as London for a meal and a chat. He said Epsom has an increasing number of people with financial and mental health problems caused by stresses relating to the economic crisis, but they have nowhere to turn because social groups in the town do not provide the support they need.

He said: “Church hall clubs are nice, but they’ve all got lables to them, if you are this or that you can come but if you are just a person who wants to get your life back in order then you’ve got nowhere.

“People want to come and be themselves, they don’t want to be judged or labled.”

The Pitsop centre offers computer, music and sports sessions, and a drug and alcohol worker visits every week.

Mr Peddie, 71, said loneliness had become one of society’s biggest problems, and community groups could easily help tackle it in Epsom.

He said: “It does not take a lot, a scout hut is free during the day, rent it. Only two of us started this place from nothing, with an idea.

“We just saw a need in Leatherhead. All it needs is someone with their eyes open in Epsom.

“I get people from Epsom coming here with mental health problems - don’t tell me there are no homeless people in Epsom, I don’t believe it.

“You’ve got people sleeping in the streets and sleeping in doorways.”

Volunteer Joe Benoit, 45, has been visiting the Pitstop centre for nearly three years.

He added: “Epsom is quite a nice town, it’s got a good reputation, money, wealth, and the last thing people want to hear is it has got a homelessness issue, but I think in most towns there is.”

A spokesman for Epsom Mental Health Week - which kicks off next weekend - said the town did not used to have many rough sleepers on its streets, according to a survey, but the number may have increased due to the economic downturn.