BOURNEMOUTH Council say they removed a tent pitched in a "narrow" part of the town centre this week.

A council 'notice of removal' was placed on a brick planter near McDonalds in Old Christchurch Road on Tuesday lunchtime saying they had taken abandoned items to the Southcote Road depot.

They included a tent, suitcases, red rucksack and sleeping bags, according to the notice.

The owner has 28 days to collect them, before they will be disposed of, it added.

A spokesperson said: “The council has a duty to keep public spaces clear and safe. We have a carefully considered protocol in place around taking away unattended items if they have been left for lengthy periods of time.

"We are very mindful that every consideration is given to vulnerable groups such as rough sleepers, who usually leave their belongings in discreet locations and staff will always leave these items in situ.

"Where items are a concern officers will, providing the item is non-hazardous (E.g. not soiled or likely to contain needles), give a period of time for people to return for their belongings before assuming that the items have been abandoned.

"The items are then placed safely in storage and a notice is left making the person aware of this, should they come back.

“In this case the notice relates to a tent pitched in a narrow part of the shopping precinct in Old Christchurch Road and left unattended."

It comes weeks after the council were forced to deny they had taken the belongings of homeless man Kevin Filsell, who died in a Bournemouth car park.