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A disabled grandmother who was forced to sleep rough next to a rat-infested canal is getting back on her feet thanks to support from the public.

Sympathy has been pouring in for Lithuanian native Darius Nenius, 45, and his 87-year-old frail mother who were made homeless this week.

After running out of money the pair had been left to sleep on the streets of Birmingham after unemployed Mr Nenius's benefits were stopped and the pair ran out of money.

Darius' mum Irena- a World War Two survivor- has been crying endlessly and had to be comforted by her desperate son, Birmingham live reports.

They were booted out of his £105-per-week flat in Ladywood, Birmingham, a little over a fortnight ago after running out of money.

The pair managed to salvage a week in shared accommodation in Handsworth but, from Monday, were forced to sleep on the streets in nothing more than blankets.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

However, kindhearted strangers are raising money to ensure that they are off the streets for good.

Two petitions were set up in 24 hours and more than £1,600 raised to help the desperate mother and son.

Raj Rana, co-founder of Let’s Feed Brum , started up the first crowdfunder and has put Darius and Irena up in The Britannia hotel for a few nights

A second fundraiser was set up via JustGiving by Steven Gardenir who told The Metro that it was sad it is to see some people saying the pair are not deserving of support because of their nationality.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

He said: "It’s sad to see how little empathy there is for an 87-year-old woman in this position.

"Most of the focus stems from them being Lithuanian and therefore lesser deserving of help. That was quite sickening.

"This is not about nationality, it’s humanitarian – and politics should not come in to this.

"I can’t even begin to imagine, and nor do I want to, on how distressing it was for her to wake up at the side of a canal in her condition."

Mr Nenius has been living in England for 10 years and in Birmingham for seven years.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

His mother is disabled and has severe dementia.

He said: “I can’t go to work, people just say I’m lazy. But if I leave my mum for long time and something might happen, she doesn’t speak English.

"This is horrible. I cannot leave her.

“This upsets me, it upsets mum. City Council refuse to help because my benefits have stopped.

“I haven’t been working for a long time, my pay slips are from 2012.”

(Image: Birmingham Mail) (Image: Birmingham Mail)

Former warehouse worker Darius has, in his own words, “lost everything” after his wife walked out on him with his nine-year-old son Ridas six years ago.

Darius took it upon himself to look after his mum Irena who was left on her own back in Lithuania.

“It is my duty to care for my mother,” he said. “She had nothing and has disability.”