A WOMAN who is just two weeks away from giving birth is sleeping in a tent behind a Bournemouth church, a soup kitchen founder has said.

Claire Matthews, who runs Hope for Food, spoke out just days after news that a two-month-old boy forced to sleep in a car with his homeless parents had died.

She said the pregnant woman - who wished to be referred to as 'Jan' to protect her identity - simply needs support and a roof over her head.

The 20-year-old mother-to-be is initially from Wakefield in West Yorkshire, and went into care at the age of two.

She moved to Dorset a year-and-a-half ago, where she met boyfriend 'Paul', also a rough sleeper, who has been living in the county for around five years.

The two previously had a bedsit in the Triangle, but were made homeless over rent arrears that Jan said had been notched up by Paul's ex-partner.

She added that she had been offered accommodation in a mother and baby unit in Bournemouth - but that she wanted to stay a family.

"I have borderline personality disorder, and I find it really hard to be on my own," she said.

"Paul's the father and he wants to be a real dad. We just need somewhere to go so we can be together."

Every morning, the couple take down their tent and put their belongings into bushes around the church grounds so they won't be stolen.

Jan is set to be induced at Poole Hospital in a fortnight.

The baby - a son - will be her first.

But she said she's been unable to enjoy her pregnancy over fears of what will happen when the child is born.

"I either go into a mother and baby unit without the man I love or my baby goes into care," she said.

"It sounds strange, but I don't even feel pregnant because I haven't been able to relax and be excited about having my first baby. Instead, I've got all the stresses of being homeless and knowing there's the risk that they'll take my son away from me."

Claire, who met the couple when they began visiting the soup kitchen in the Richmond Hill St Andrew’s churchyard, said: "It's a mirror image of what happened with baby Donald.

"It's awful. We have everything they need all ready to go - the cot, all the kit - all they need is a roof so they can be together as a family."

As reported in the Daily Echo, Donald was born prematurely at Poole Hospital during the summer.

His parents were forced to sleep in a car, and spoke about their struggle to find a home in the east Dorset area.

Tragically, the tot died in Kent at the age of just two months old.

He is believed to have been living in a bed and breakfast with his parents, and the cause of his death is not known.

A spokesperson from Bournemouth council said: "The council adopts national homelessness legislation and guidance, which is the case for all councils."