PAUL Rose, who has been living in a tent in the doorway of an Alton pub because he can’t find a place to rent, has been forced to move after vandals attacked both him and his tent late on Friday night as temperatures dropped below freezing.

It was the second time the tent has been attacked by mindless thugs. After the first incident, Paul was able repair it and continue living there.

But on Friday his attackers came back while he was sleeping.

“They began kicking the tent in and stamping on it and in the process I got a few bruises, but I couldn’t see who did it as they ran off,” he said.

Desperate to find shelter, Paul has bought an old van with a fold-up bed and he is living in that. It is parked near the town, so he doesn’t lose contact with his friends in Alton.

Three weeks ago, Paul made an appeal to meet a landlord who would be willing to let him rent a property in Alton.

He said he had tried to rent through local estate agents, which he claims cost him more than £200 but, because he has no credit rating or address, although he has savings in the bank that would cover a deposit and monthly rent payments, they were unable to find him anything.

Paul believes if he can meet a landlord face to face and explain he has the money to pay he will be able to find a place of his own.

His parents are dead and he has lost track of his brother, so his only friends and the people who care for him are in Alton, and once he gets a place he plans to train as an HGV driver which will give him a secure job and income.

Asked if he had any replies to article in the Herald highlighting his plight, he said: “A few kind people have called me and I got the offer of renting somewhere in Farnborough, but I need to stay in Alton as that is where my friends are. They are my family.”

Unless he can find or room or flat to rent, Paul could be spending Christmas in his van.

Anyone who has accommodation to rent in or around the town can call Paul on 07498 082974.