A HOMELESS camp described as a 'mini Glastonbury' has come under fire over alleged drug-dealing, public urination and anti-social behaviour – but an ex soldier living there denies the claims and says "we're just trying to survive".

The site, in the trees behind Primo Bar and Dining, in Sidbury, Worcester, has also been branded an eyesore, by a local resident.

However, one member of the camp, called Jake, a former soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, denies the claims.

He said: "We are just trying to survive, it's winter and it's freezing cold.

"We won't be here forever. We don't have parties or loud music, we keep ourselves to ourselves.

"They are just saying there's suspected drug dealing because we are homeless. It's a stereotype.

"We are stuck outside as there's no emergency housing available - all the places have been taken up."

Jake, who fought in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, became homeless after he left the military.

He said he gave his partner all of his possessions, including their home, after their relationship broke down.

The 27-year-old, who served in the army for six years, moved into the camp two months ago and is currently trying to secure housing through military charities.

He added: "We were staying in 'tent town' on the riverside but we were moved. We were sleeping in doorways in town and then we were moved on again."

Jake denied that he or his fellow campers urinate in the canal and said they instead use a bucket, which they pour down the drain.

He also denied that they cut down trees and insisted that they only use dead wood for fires.

The rough sleeper added that the camp is well camouflaged and doubted that passers-by would even be able to see the site.

The former private also insisted that the fires at the site, where three other people are staying, were controlled in a pit.

However, local resident Rebecca Gardiner, aged 48, described the camp as 'a mini-Glastonbury', where she thinks drug-dealing takes place.

She added: "It's very visible from the Commandery. People who work there have seen them urinating in the canal.

"It's a disgusting mess. We have a Christmas Fayre this weekend. If you look across it's not a very good advertisement.

"They are ripping the trees down to make fires. At 3am in the morning they are chopping trees down.

"Every morning at about 6am there's a flurry of people going there, exchanging 'things'."

Ms Gardiner said there had also been an increase in the number of rats in the area since the camp appeared.

The resident added that one couple had been at the site since July.

She thinks the patch of land has become a haven for the homeless because it has not been maintained.

The owner of Primo Bar and Dining said some of his young female staff felt threatened by the rough sleepers when they took the bins out.

He added: "I've complained to the city council twice. Three weeks ago they said they would be moving them in a week's time.

"Every day we get more people there. Next thing you know there will be 50 or 60 people there. I don't think they will be very safe in winter there.

"It's a bit frustrating but at the same time what can you really do? They need to be found homes. I've seen them building fires every night, I don't think it's safe.

"The flat next door have kids and they can hear them [the rough sleepers] swearing and shouting all the time."

The owner said bikes and other items have also been dumped on part of the land he owns next to the site.

He added that members of the camp, which he thinks was set up in early summer, also put their rubbish in his bins.

Worcester City Council, which owns the land where the camp is, said: "We have been monitoring the rough sleepers on this site and intend to start proceedings shortly to move them on from this location.

"We are liaising closely with the police and local agencies that deal with rough sleepers to assess the welfare of the people on the site.”