COUNCIL officers have been filmed soaking a couple's bedding with disinfectant in a town centre doorway.

Leah Davis, who filmed the video, was left stunned after seeing the authority's two officers carry out their work, on Bridge Street, on Wednesday.

She said: "When I saw the council members soaking a homeless person's belongings in this freezing weather, I was absolutely disgusted and heartbroken that another human being could do this to someone knowing that they have nothing.

"Christmas is about giving not taking."

The video has been viewed more than 13,000 times on Facebook so far.

The council has responded after coming in for criticism and said it 'actually works to get people off the streets and into homes, rather than merely providing sleeping bags'.

A spokesman said: "The council was contacted by town centre businesses concerned about a small number of individuals attempting to convince people that they are sleeping rough in the town centre.

"In order to keep the town centre clean and free of health hazards our officers will remove any dumped items in the streets or doorways as is standard practice across the country.

"Our officers assess whether items are likely to be personal or are dumped material.

"They then have to disinfect the material as it is often infested.

"Any personal items are stored safely by Housing Plus for 28 days and can be returned to the owners.

"The council and partner agencies will make sure anyone who is a genuine rough sleeper is given a bed for the night and access to medical help and help to move onto suitable accommodation."

The man, who uses the doorway along with his girlfriend and his dog, said he was 'absolutely devastated' after returning to the doorway to feel his bedding was drenched.

The 37-year-old added: "I have been here for two and a half years now.

"We been told to give the dog up and then we will get accommodation.

"But my dog is my daughter, I don't care what anyone thinks, she is my daughter.

"It has never been a problem my bedding being here as they know we are homeless.

"We are genuinely homeless, not like the ones who pretend to be homeless and beg to get money.

"They have destroyed my bedding, absolutely destroyed it.

"I was absolutely disgusted when I saw the video, I was really upset.

"I am still going to be on the streets now."

The council has measures in place to support rough sleepers, or those at risk.

The spokesman added: "The council has a number of measures to help anyone who is homeless, or in danger of being homeless, and would encourage residents to report any genuine rough sleepers using the contacts below so that they can get the help that they need.

"Calling these numbers will be considerably more effective than providing some small change or a sleeping bag as it could actually help somebody to get the hand-up that they need.

"If you believe that someone is sleeping rough please contact us through the details below or the national charity Streetlink, who will put people sleeping rough in touch with all the relevant agencies."

The council has said the 37-year-old man is known to housing officers.

A spokesman added: “He already has temporary accommodation close to the town centre.

“Offers of permanent accommodation have previously been made and our door is always open and some landlords allow pets, some don’t, usually depending on whether a person’s access to property is shared or exclusive.”

E-mail: roughsleepers@warrington.gov.uk

Office hours telephone: 246868

Emergency out of hours telephone: 444400 and ask to speak to a homelessness officer

You can also report rough sleepers to StreetLink at any time and they will pass on the information to the council

For further information visit streetlink.force.com