A mayor has slammed rough sleepers in his town and lashed out at well-intentioned residents who are giving them spare change.

Cllr Andy Drummond, mayor of Newmarket, suggested that homeless people in the market town in Suffolk are being "killed with kindness" due to the generosity of locals.

He said rough sleepers "want to be homeless" and are earning around £80 a day as they beg passers-by on the High Street to get "money, drugs and alcohol".

The mayor has urged residents not to give anything to rough sleepers as the town's council seeks wider powers to remove squatters, including two in particular, Cambridge News reports.

Nick Rowley, 53, and his girlfriend Donna have been on the High Street in Newmarket since April, sitting and sleeping outside a Greggs shop or in a bike shelter behind a Barclays.

(Image: BPM Cambridge News)

Newmarket Town Council is contesting with Forest Heath District Council to widen its powers to remove the homeless through a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

Cllr Drummond said: "You know the term, 'killing with kindness'? Well, people think we're helping these people by giving a cup of coffee or a Greggs.

"But the reality is that our officers told us that they are earning around £80 a day and they actually have some very serious drug habits.

"What I would say to the public of Newmarket is - please don't give anything to them. Not just money but also food. They're on the High Street because of the footfall.

(Image: BPM Cambridge News)

"Their presence doesn't enhance the shopping experience. You have to consider the retailers - they're the biggest rate payers. If we don't do anything about it, it'll get worse.

"I know it sounds brutal but somebody needs to make a stand. They want to be homeless, they want to passive beg on the High Street to get money, drugs and alcohol.

"It's really as simple as that."

Mr Rowley and his partner are understood to have lived in and around Newmarket for most of their lives.

He said: "I want to stay in Newmarket. It's where my family are living.

"Why would I want to leave?"

(Image: BPM Cambridge News)

The couple, who have been homeless for more than a year, are two of three people living on the High Street.

They were offered shelter by the district council around April, but they are holding out for accommodation in Newmarket to be close to family.

The town council has said that their presence is not good for the High Street, and is seeking extra power from Forest Heath to remove homeless people from that area.

Forest Heath, however, said that the time has passed to change the town's powers and that it will find the homeless people accommodation.

(Image: PA)

Homeless man living in a tent says he 'feels forgotten'

Cllr Drummond however believes that will take "a month of Sundays."

Cllr Robin Millar, portfolio holder for families and community from Forest Heath, said: "I do not believe that a PSPO would prevent rough sleeping on the High Street and I have received no evidence from the police to suggest that a change is necessary.

"The reasons for rough sleeping are many and we have plans in place to address these issues and have invested money into increasing our housing team. However, there is rarely a simple or quick solution.

"The housing team are at the forefront of these responses, alongside partners and my portfolio aims to address indirectly some of the causes."