ANGRY residents have spoken of their disgust that a homeless man living on Pitchcroft has not been moved on despite the increasing risk of flooding.

Ex-serviceman Derek Jones, known as Jonah, has been living rough next to the racecourse in Worcester since August, despite suffering from multiple sclerosis. His tent is now 100 yards from floodwater.

Dog-walkers and families are angry because they say the 67-year-old's living conditions are unhygienic, particularly as he has nowhere to go to the toilet.

Sue Pingree, of Barbourne Lane, is leading the fight to get Mr Jones removed.

She said: "It's ridiculous that someone is lying in a tent at this time of year - it's a joke really.

"He's put all his mess there, it's a major health hazard, and it's pretty disgraceful that the council hasn't housed him.

"Children are frightened to go down there and families haven't been able to picnic there in summer.

"Everybody moans about him. There are no toilets and if he's leaving his mess around the place, rats and foxes are going to spread diseases.

"I'm worried about him too because I fear one night, if the place is flooded, they'll find a dead body down there."

Sue Leach, of Worcester Rough Sleepers, regularly visits Mr Jones and said she was also worried he would drown if Pitchcroft flooded.

"Things need to be done. It's ridiculous that somebody of his age is living like this, especially with his disabilities.

"He won't survive down there if it floods, and it looks like that's what is going to happen."

But Mike Morris, senior housing adviser at Worcester City Council, said the council was "bending over backwards" to help Mr Jones.

He said: "Without going into the specifics of the case, I'm confident we have done as much as possible to help Mr Jones.

"I'm sure the council will be depicted as looking bad because of Mr Jones's state but the problem is he's happy to stay there and there are certain things he is demanding which we just can't provide. He must meet us halfway."

Insp Paul Bogaard, of Worcester police, said they were aware of Mr Jones but he was not breaking the law.

He said: "Officers are checking on him and obviously they are concerned for his welfare as the nights are getting colder, but it is up to other agencies to look after his health and safety.

"He hasn't caused any damage and officers have made sure he's aware of the problems of flooding.

To hell with tomorrow: Jonah's story

SO how did an old soldier who served all over Europe end up sleeping rough on Pitchcroft?

Jonah Jones's decline started with the break-up of a relationship four years ago, when the 67-year-old Birmingham-born man was living in Malvern.

"I was on the bottle hard," he said from his tent, which was donated to him.

He said he was burgled five times, which made him even more depressed, and then ended up in court after swearing at a neighbour.

After being moved on for sleeping rough outside Worcester library, he decided to go to Pitchcroft.

He is helped by the Worcester Rough Sleepers team and provided with morphine and other drugs for his multiple sclerosis, while passers-by give scraps of food to his dog Rusty.

"At the moment I'm as happy as Larry but I don't particularly want to be here under three feet of water.

"I wish the council would provide me with somewhere nice to live. I don't want to die under here."

"But I live for today, and to hell with tomorrow.

And it's set to get wetter...

PITCHCROFT racecourse resembled a giant paddling pool as overnight rain left it waterlogged and the nearby River Severn swollen.

Though the predicted 70mph gales did not arrive, Worcester was once again drenched by a heavy downpour early this morning.

Emergency services said there were no overnight reports of accidents due to the weather and the Environment Agency said the city had no flood watches or warnings.

The flood status of the Severn in Bewdley, Stourport-on-Severn and Holt Fleet has also been downgraded to All Clear.

However, the wet weather is set to continue with winds of up to 50mph, heavy rain and the possibility of thunder predicted for today and overnight.