A HOMELESS family pitched a tent on Two Tree Island, Leigh, after being evicted from their house in Shoebury.

The mother, her two sons and one of her son’s girlfriends have been living on the nature reserve for twomonths, after they fell into rent arrears.

One of the sons, who didn’t want to be named, said the council had arranged single-room accommodation for his girlfriend, but said they couldn’t find somewhere that would take the family’s two dogs.

He said: “The council have found a room for my girlfriend, but no-one else and we have two dogs, which makes things difficult.

A man from a furniture shop brought us a stove, but that’s all the help we’ve had so far.

“We don’t want to live here, it’s not very nice, but we don’t have anywhere else to go.

“We get abuse from people.

“We’re just homeless, and there’s a lot of antisocial behaviour here because it’s where the racers do their drifting.”

However, conservationists on the island expressed health and safety concerns regarding the family’s makeshift toilets, with children kayaking nearby.

Beachcare project officer Robert Martyr, speaking after a cleanup by the group on Sunday, said: “Strangest find of the day was a hot tub and illegal campers with their rustic toilet polluting the salt marsh habitat.

“These individuals have been illegally camping now for nearly two months and, on Sunday, five kids were launching kayaks a stone’s throw away from the outdoor toilet.”

Southend Council leader Ron Woodley said outreach workers were engaging with the family and were continuing to explore options for them.

He added: “We are aware of a family camping out at Two Tree Island.

“Our outreach team is engaging with them.

“Accommodation has been found for one person, and we are continuing to explore options with the other members of the family.”