The scale of homelessness in Scotland is a "damning indictment" on modern society, the incoming moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has said.

The Rev Russell Barr said it was "obscene" so many people were without safe and secure accommodation and challenged the Scottish and UK governments to act.

Mr Barr, who founded Edinburgh-based homeless charity Fresh Start, said the issue was one of the greatest challenges of modern times.

He called on politicians to take action to resolve issues around homelessness.

Official statistics show 35,764 homeless applications were made to local authorities across Scotland in 2014-15.

Mr Barr, who will lead the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for the next year, said the Scottish Government must deliver on promises to build at least 50,000 more affordable homes over the next five years.

The 62-year-old said reducing the level of homelessness would help drive up health and education standards.

"Homelessness is a damning indictment on modern society," added Dr Barr, who has a doctorate from Princeton Theology Seminary in the USA.

"It is a disgrace and should not happen in the UK which is the fifth richest economy in the world.

"We worry about health and education and one of the best ways to improve standards is to ensure that people are properly and safely accommodated.

"Tackling the obscenity of homelessness must be a key priority for the Scottish and UK governments."

The moderator designate spoke out after the Glasgow City Mission and the Bethany Christian Trust said demand for their respective shelters rose by 94% in Glasgow and 38% in Edinburgh in 2015-16 compared to last year.

Mr Barr, who has been minister of Cramond Kirk in Edinburgh since 1993, set up Fresh Start in 1999 after meeting a homeless man called Sam who had been allocated a flat but could not afford to buy cutlery, crockery, pots and pans or bed linen.

He said: "Meeting this chap was a light bulb moment and I realised we had to do something really practical.

"He needed help to turn that flat into a home because what he had in the street beside him was all that he had in the world."

The ecumenical charity also provides food and offers cookery classes and lessons on budgeting and growing fruit and vegetables.