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A homeless couple sleeping rough in Bristol city centre with their pet cat have been told by police to move out of the shop doorway where they have been staying or risk being arrested.

Mel and Jordan made the empty shop front, next to Debenhams on The Horsefair, their home since Christmas Day 2018 after someone knifed their tent forcing them to seek shelter elsewhere.

Since then, they have occupied the doorway in the popular shopping area of Broadmead, attracting the attention of passers-by who stop to look at and pet their Bengal cat Prince.

Police officers issued Mel and Jordan with a Community Protection Notice Warning last Thursday (Jan 10) after several complaints of alleged anti-social behaviour against police officers and members of the public.

Eye-witnesses said they saw Mel become extremely upset and distressed as a police van pulled up and officers got out and gave her the notice.

The council's Streetwise team have been helping the pair look for somewhere to live, however, Mel claims she hasn't been housed yet because there is nowhere she can take Prince.

(Image: David Betts Photography)

However, she will not give him up as she said he is a therapeutic pet who helps her with her mental health issues.

The pair have now been issued with a full Community Protection Notice which means they have to move themselves and their possessions out of the doorway by 7am tomorrow (January 16) or risk being arrested.

They will not allowed to sit or loiter in the area during trading hours, however, given the large amount of belongings they have with them, the couple do not know where to go.

Mel, 24, said: "The police have told us we have to get out of this doorway but I don't feel like we have anywhere to go.

"They've even said we should get a tent and move to Castle Park but I know the kind of stuff that goes on there it's not safe for people to stay.

"I don't know what to do next but I want to get off the streets. Our birthdays are coming up and we don't want to be in the same position then as we are now.

(Image: David Betts Photography)

"So many people have been kind to us and stopped to stroke Prince but there are many that have judged us for being here and having him here.

"But, I was told to get Prince by my last mental health worker, he's a therapeutic pet," Mel explained.

"Honestly, if I didn't have this cat I wouldn't be here."

Cat lovers have even started a campaign on the Bristol Cat Community Facebook group to find somewhere temporary for the husband and wife to stay, concerned with the conditions the couple have been living in.

They succeeded in finding a generous business owner who suggested the couple could stay above their Puppy Parlour but the offer fell through on last Thursday (Jan 10), which has meant the couple have stayed put.

Donna Stone, a member of the group, was the first to post a plea to help the couple which garnered a lot of support.

(Image: David Betts Photography)

In a heartfelt post she wrote, she said: "Today broke my heart, while shopping in town we walked past a homeless couple, sadly not very unusual, but what made this couple different was that they had a cat on there lap completely content with a cat jumper on and a lead attached."

Having made her mission since then to help the couple, Donna has spent a number of hours and days on the cold street with them.

The 35-year-old from Bradley Stoke said: "I went home that night and had a bath while my cat lay next to me and I couldn't stop thinking about how different my life was at that moment from theirs. I couldn't get it out of my head.

"So, I posted on the group and it went crazy, everyone offered lots of help.

"It was heartbreaking to have to tell them that the plans we had arranged them to move them on Friday had fallen through, Mel was obviously upset.

"But, I'm still hoping to get them some accommodation. They have nothing and are in a dire way, anything would be better than them staying on a cold concrete floor.

"I've been amazed by the willingness of people to help others this past week, it has brought a community of cat lovers together. I'm just hoping they can get the help they need now."

A number of police officers who work in the city centre have been working with Donna and Mel and Jordan.

Inspector Rob Cheeseman, Avon and Somerset Constabulary neighbourhood team inspector said: “Officers were engaging with a homeless couple in Broadmead this morning in order to give them a Community Protection Notice warning letter following a number of complaints about anti-social behaviour.

"The couple have been given time to comply with the notice, which has a number of conditions including requiring them to engage with the support being offered to them.

“The Streetwise team are continuing to support the couple in finding a place to live, as well as giving them access to any services they may need.”