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A double-decker bus offering refuge to rough sleepers in Windsor has been impounded ahead of the Royal wedding.

Police seized the 10-bed bus, operated by charity The Ark Project, from the town centre after it had offered beds and warm food to rough sleepers in the town.

The vehicle is thought only to have arrived in Windsor this week in the wake of controversial suggestions homeless people could be cleared from the town for Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle on Saturday.

Thames Valley Police said the bus was seized on Thursday due to an issue with the driver’s licence.

Charity founder Michael Longsmith, 42, vowed to pay £1,500 to get it out of the impound before driving it straight back to Windsor Castle on Friday morning ahead the wedding.

Royal Wedding rehearsal - In pictures 28 show all Royal Wedding rehearsal - In pictures 1/28 The household cavalry take part in the dress rehearsal today in Windsor Jeremy Selwyn 2/28 A horse drawn carriage makes its way through Windsor during the dress rehearsal for the royal wedding Jeremy Selwyn 3/28 Horses make their way through Windsor during the dress rehearsal for the royal wedding Jeremy Selwyn 4/28 People watch the rehearsal outside Windsor Castle Jeremy Selwyn 5/28 A dog sits with its owner before the rehearsal of the carriage procession for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images 6/28 A carriage makes its way through Windsor during today's rehearsal Jeremy Selwyn 7/28 A marching band take part in the rehearsal ahead of this weekend's royal wedding Jeremy Selwyn 8/28 The household cavalry during the dress rehearsal for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle Getty Images 9/28 Royal fans line the streets during the dress rehearsal for the wedding Getty Images 10/28 Members of the armed forces walk the route of the carriage ahead of the royal wedding this weekend Jeremy Selwyn 11/28 Motorcycle police travel the route of the carriage ahead of the royal wedding this weekend Jeremy Selwyn 12/28 Members of the armed forces walk the route of the carriage ahead of the royal wedding this weekend Jeremy Selwyn 13/28 Military personnel take part in a dress rehearsal Getty Images 14/28 Royal fans wear Harry and Catherine masks outside Windsor Castle Getty Images 15/28 Members of the armed forces walk the route of the carriage ahead of the royal wedding this weekend Jeremy Selwyn 16/28 Police were seen on the roofs of Windsor as part of the rehearsal Jeremy Selwyn 17/28 Members of the armed forces walk through Windsor ahead of Saturday's royal wedding Jeremy Selwyn 18/28 Military personnel rehearse their part in the procession Reuters 19/28 The rehearsal comes ahead of the ceremony on Saturday Jeremy Selwyn 20/28 Members of the armed forces march through Windsor Jeremy Selwyn 21/28 A carriage is driven through the streets of Windsor during a rehearsal for the procession AP 22/28 A carriage is driven through the streets of Windsor during a rehearsal for the procession Reuters 23/28 Military personnel take part in a dress rehearsal Getty Images 24/28 The Crown Equerry Colonel Toby Brown (centre), head of the Royal Mews sits atop the Ascot Landau carriage pulled by Windsor Grey horses, on the Long Walk during a rehearsal for the wedding procession in Windsor AFP/Getty Images 25/28 Military personnel take part in a dress rehearsal Getty Images 26/28 Armed police officers patrol in front of Windsor Castle AP 27/28 Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment escort the Ascot Landau carriage pulled by Windsor Grey horses, on the Long Walk during a rehearsal for the wedding procession in Windsor AFP/Getty Images 28/28 Police officers and members of the public watch as military personnel rehearse their part in the procession Reuters 1/28 The household cavalry take part in the dress rehearsal today in Windsor Jeremy Selwyn 2/28 A horse drawn carriage makes its way through Windsor during the dress rehearsal for the royal wedding Jeremy Selwyn 3/28 Horses make their way through Windsor during the dress rehearsal for the royal wedding Jeremy Selwyn 4/28 People watch the rehearsal outside Windsor Castle Jeremy Selwyn 5/28 A dog sits with its owner before the rehearsal of the carriage procession for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Getty Images 6/28 A carriage makes its way through Windsor during today's rehearsal Jeremy Selwyn 7/28 A marching band take part in the rehearsal ahead of this weekend's royal wedding Jeremy Selwyn 8/28 The household cavalry during the dress rehearsal for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle Getty Images 9/28 Royal fans line the streets during the dress rehearsal for the wedding Getty Images 10/28 Members of the armed forces walk the route of the carriage ahead of the royal wedding this weekend Jeremy Selwyn 11/28 Motorcycle police travel the route of the carriage ahead of the royal wedding this weekend Jeremy Selwyn 12/28 Members of the armed forces walk the route of the carriage ahead of the royal wedding this weekend Jeremy Selwyn 13/28 Military personnel take part in a dress rehearsal Getty Images 14/28 Royal fans wear Harry and Catherine masks outside Windsor Castle Getty Images 15/28 Members of the armed forces walk the route of the carriage ahead of the royal wedding this weekend Jeremy Selwyn 16/28 Police were seen on the roofs of Windsor as part of the rehearsal Jeremy Selwyn 17/28 Members of the armed forces walk through Windsor ahead of Saturday's royal wedding Jeremy Selwyn 18/28 Military personnel rehearse their part in the procession Reuters 19/28 The rehearsal comes ahead of the ceremony on Saturday Jeremy Selwyn 20/28 Members of the armed forces march through Windsor Jeremy Selwyn 21/28 A carriage is driven through the streets of Windsor during a rehearsal for the procession AP 22/28 A carriage is driven through the streets of Windsor during a rehearsal for the procession Reuters 23/28 Military personnel take part in a dress rehearsal Getty Images 24/28 The Crown Equerry Colonel Toby Brown (centre), head of the Royal Mews sits atop the Ascot Landau carriage pulled by Windsor Grey horses, on the Long Walk during a rehearsal for the wedding procession in Windsor AFP/Getty Images 25/28 Military personnel take part in a dress rehearsal Getty Images 26/28 Armed police officers patrol in front of Windsor Castle AP 27/28 Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment escort the Ascot Landau carriage pulled by Windsor Grey horses, on the Long Walk during a rehearsal for the wedding procession in Windsor AFP/Getty Images 28/28 Police officers and members of the public watch as military personnel rehearse their part in the procession Reuters

Inspector Gavin Biggs, a roads police officer, said the force seized the "commercial vehicle" in the afternoon.

"It was being driven otherwise than in accordance with a licence, a man was reported for the offence and the vehicle was removed," he added.

Mr Longsmith, of Newbury, Berkshire, said police pulled the bus over for not having an MoT, but he proved it was exempt. Then, he added, they questioned his licence, which he claimed is appropriate for the vehicle.

"The bus is in the impound," he said. "We have got to pay £1,500 to get it released."

"We are going straight back to Windsor with it in full force. We are going to park right outside the castle," he added

The bus's presence came after Windsor council's Conservative leader Simon Dudley sparked controversy with a letter to Thames Valley Police saying rough sleepers should be removed ahead of the wedding.

But, after a backlash, it appears the street homeless have not been removed and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead said it has been working with charities to get rough sleepers the help they need.