Having fallen on hard times a couple who had been sleeping rough have hit rock bottom.

After being on the streets of Southampton for four months, Jenny and her husband Gabriel – who refused to give their full names – where kicked out of their makeshift camp in the city's medieval town walls.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the pair had set up camp at the historical arches near Castle Way.

However, at 9.45 on Thursday, Jenny was greeted by staff from Southampton City Council informing her she would have to leave immediately for trespassing on the monument.

She said: “This has totally wiped me out, I’m getting too old to be sleeping rough yet this is the council helping apparently.”

The 57 year-old became homeless after a string of divorces and being robbed five times left her penniless.

Having previously been a partner in an audio electronic hire company with one of her ex-husbands she was generating nearly £7 million a year, but the divorce left her with just £40,000 to her name.

“I was earning £48,000 a year at that job,” she added “But the divorce and having all my belongings stolen on more than one occasion has lead to where we are now.

“The last time someone broke into my house was when I lived in Calshot, and they took everything even my underwear.”

The council begun putting her belongings into the back of al van to put into storage.

Jenny had to deal with the situation on her own, as husband Gabriel was awaiting surgery on a serious head injury and could only watch as staff from the council began to remove her possessions.

“There is a high percentage that he won’t pull through the surgery, so I didn’t want to burden him with this as well,” she added.

“It seems like the council just wants people off the street, out of sight out of mind.”

Jenny said the council were moving them to Patrick House, but they had stayed there before and faced problems during that time, but she admits she has run out of options.

Daily Echo:

The council insists that they acted lawfully in the removal of the couple and had previously offered support which they refused.

A spokesman from the council said: “The occupiers had no consent or licence to remain at the site and were therefore trespassing.

“Having received complaints from members of the public about the occupants' behaviour, including allegations that they have been harassed for money we had no option.”

The council said it remains committed to helping rough sleepers in the city but will continue to monitor the Castle Way are to make sure that it remains unoccupied.