BAILIFFS evicted a man who has been sheltering in a Hampshire multi-storey car park.

The Daily Echo first revealed how Eastleigh Council was taking legal steps to move on the man who had been sleeping rough in the 13-storey Southampton Road car park in the heart of the town centre.

Yesterday bailiffs arrived at the car park at 11.30am to enforce the eviction order which had been issued by Southampton County Court.

Earlier the Daily Echo had tracked down the young man who had covered himself under a sleeping bag which had been laid across a piece of cardboard outside one of the lift doors. He would not comment.

Within ten minutes of the bailiffs arriving the man was on his way and heading towards the shopping centre. It is the second time in a year that Eastleigh Council has gone to the courts to move on someone who has been sleeping rough in the multi-storey car park, which is used by thousands of shoppers and commuters every day.

An Eastleigh Council spokesman said: “The person has occupied the building on occasions since January 2009. Several complaints and concerns have been raised about his presence by users of the car park. During this period the council’s housing staff have visited him offering advice.

“He has been offered a range of housing options, including the night shelter, private rented accommodation and the housing register. And that is still the case.

“The council is concerned about public safety and the safety of the individual.”

Notices had been pinned on various levels of the car park giving the court’s reasons for the eviction.

A spokeswoman for Crisis, the leading homeless charity, said: “It is a very sad situation. We would hope that every effort is being made to help people like this find the right accommodation. But there are people living rough in all sorts of situations including multi-storey car parks, cars and under bridges. People try to hide themselves away to protect themselves but outreach workers find it difficult to help them.

“Our concern is that as the recession bites more people will find their circumstances changing and they could be in a similar situation.”