A MAN is living in a caravan in a council car park in Weymouth after his friend took drastic action to try to force authorities to help him.

Sam Bradley, from Weymouth, dropped the caravan off at the Municipal Offices car park in the early hours of yesterday morning to prompt Weymouth and Portland Borough Council into action.

He wants the council to look urgently at the case of his homeless friend, who he only named as Justin, who is now living in the caravan. Mr Bradley acted after reading in the Dorset Echo about 85-year-old Joyce Bycroft, who was living in a caravan outside the offices of West Dorset District Council to highlight her case for housing. She was given temporary accommodation.

Mr Bradley, who was homeless himself for more than a decade, said: “Justin is quite an ill person, he has an extensive medical history and at the moment he is suffering from a broken back, although he can still walk around.

“I myself have been homeless and it’s horrible, nobody helps you and that’s the reason why I’ve put the caravan here, so the council will be forced into helping him. The council have a duty of care to find him a pitch. Justin and other homeless people have been let down by the council.

“Yes, he might have messed up a few times but he has sorted himself out and they are still not helping him.

“I was in a very similar position through one fault or another. I was homeless on and off for 10 or 15 years in and around Weymouth and in the end, I left the country. I came back and although I had a local connection the council still wouldn’t help me. The winter is coming so he will be out of the weather and the caravan is fitted with electricity and gas so he will be able to keep warm and feed himself.”

The council’s housing spokesman Cllr Kevin Brookes said: “Two street homeless people arrived in a caravan in the North Quay car park.

“We have worked with other agencies and have given them the appropriate advice and assistance. We have also initiated a process to have the caravan removed.”

n Anyone facing homelessness is urged to call the borough council on 01305 838000 or speak to a member of the housing advice team at the council offices.