SOLDIERS, veterans and MP Tobias Ellwood slept rough at the weekend to put the welfare of ex-military personnel who end up homeless in the spotlight.

Around 20 people braved plunging temperatures in Bournemouth Square overnight on Saturday, as part of an event taking place in eight towns and cities across the UK.

It comes as around 16,000 people have signed a petition urging Bournemouth Council to remove their 'anti-homeless' bars on benches.

As of yesterday, thousands of people had shared and signed Savanna Cutts' online petition relating to the controversial measure.

It comes after a week which saw both Bournemouth and Poole councils come under fire for their treatment of the homeless.

In Poole, a public space protection order (PSPO) was introduced which could lead to rough sleepers being fined £1,000.

Mr Ellwood, a Defence Minister and former Captain in the Royal Green Jackets, told the Daily Echo: “Firstly, getting out the Westminster bubble is always a good thing and its been an incredible experience to learn the individual stories as to why people here are choosing to sleep rough.

“It is always more complicated, we need to be tactful if we are going to solve this challenge. It is good that the government has put a billion pounds in, but at ground level, there needs to be a collaborative approach. It cannot just be the police on their own, the NHS, the council, they all need to work together.

“All the stories I’ve heard tonight show there are complicated reasons as to why people are in the situations they are. In some cases they are pushing away help, they are proud. Let’s put our hands up, let’s recognise this is a growing problem in Britain.”

Homeless charities estimate around 13,000 veterans have no place to live.

The events at the weekend were organised by the online military forum Fill Your Boots, to raise funds for veterans’ charity LaunchPad.

In Bournemouth, ex-Rifles soldier Andy Price, 39, was instrumental in organising the rough sleep event. Andy, who has established the Veterans Hub charity in Weymouth, served three tours of Afghanistan before becoming a private military contractor for another seven years.

He said: “I has a substantial breakdown in 2017. It was a long time coming, I was suicidal.”

“I packed my bag, was going to get away from my family and live on the street,

“It was only then when I realised there was almost no immediate help available.”

Two of Andy’s colleagues had killed themselves after struggling with mental health issues, and this drove him to action. “Me and my partner started the organisation, Veterans Hub, a support service for veterans suffering from mental health problems and readjustment issues.

Meanwhile, Lee Pollitt, who served ten years in the British Army, was among those sleeping rough to raise funds for homeless veterans. He said: “I think the problem has got worse in the past ten years and is going to get worse.

“When you look at PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), you are looking upward of a 12 year period before it can manifest. We haven’t been out of Iraq or Afghan for 12 years yet.

“I think it is going to get worse, there just doesn’t seem to be a safety net. It is falling on charities to fill the gap.”

Another British Army veteran of 26 years, called JJ, told the Echo family support was also essential when making the transition from military to civilian life. “Speaking from personal experience, being inside that nice little blanket for 26 years then suddenly coming out and facing the big world, it is quite daunting.”