OUTCASTS
Homeless people forced to fish for their dinner after setting up ‘home’ on the banks of a Manchester canal
The group have decided to 'Ray Mears' it after claiming they were turned down for council homes
A GROUP of homeless people claim they've been forced to "build their own home" on the banks of a Manchester canal, creating a living room from discarded furniture and fishing for dinner.
Shocking pictures show their set-up - described as like the set of a sitcom - with a sofa, picnic bench, kettle and even a hi-fi blasting ABBA tunes.
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After stints in a tent in Manchester and at a bus shelter, Stuart Potts said he and pals were planning to "Ray Mears" it on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal in Eccles after being turned down for council housing.
The dad-of-four, 35, has set up the unusual dwelling with girlfriend Georgia Twemlow, 28, and their friend "Russian John".
He told the : "I chose this spot because it’s in my home town, it’s close to church, and it’s near the doctor’s - although I wasn’t allowed to register because I’ve got no address.
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“It’s not near housing so we’re not bothering anyone. It’s all right, hopefully I’ll be able to feed myself and anyone else who needs it. I can totally Ray Mears it."
Stuart says well-wishers have brought donations of food, blankets, clothes and cigarettes for the camp.
But some residents are said to be unhappy with police saying they've already received 14 complaints about the set-up.
The dad said he'd decided to build himself a home because he can't get one.
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He said: "I want everyone to have a nice home. Everyone says there’s enough fish in the sea - and I know for sure there’s enough land and houses for everyone to live in, but there are still people starving while at the supermarkets there are bins brimming with food."
Stuart and Georgia claim they have been forced onto the streets after being turned down for social housing.
They have a sofa and two chairs, a bookcase and a bed to sleep on which they found chucked out by a nearby furniture dealer.
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The pair have even planted vegetables in a nearby patch of soil and wash in the canal with shower gel.
They've managed to find a carpet to cover the concrete towpath as well as an old tent cover to shelter them from the rain.
Stuart claims he ended up on the streets after his landlord evicted him for letting a homeless man stay on his sofa.
Salford's deputy city mayor Cllr Paula Boshell told the Sun Online everyone had left the site and the furniture had been cleared away.
She said: "No-one has returned over the weekend. Most of the people at the site were not homeless but had simply gathered there.
"Two people at the site were known to our housing services.
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"They have been supported with accommodation, advice and support in the past and we urge them to contact us so we can continue to try and help them."
It comes after two homeless men were praised as heroes after bravely running to help victims in the aftermath of the Manchester arena bomb attack last month.
West Ham United offered to help Stephen Jones, 35, by paying for a hotel room for the hero and help him settle into a new home.
And his friend Chris Parker was reunited with his estranged mum and had £50,000 raised to support him by well-wishers.
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