CAVENDISH PRESS Manchester has been dumped with its very own Calais jungle

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The cluster of more than 20 tents, makeshift washing lines and battered furniture has become an eyesore on the University of Manchester campus near two luxury hotels and a busy railway station. The estimated 50 habitants seem to have made themselves at home in the shanty town - which has a large widescreen TV and even a carved pumpkin. It has been dubbed The Manchester Jungle after the Calais Jungle camp which has ballooned to contain a mass 6,000 migrants trying to make daily illegal bids to reach Britain.

It mirrors similar camps which emerged in other European cities suchas Paris, which became magnets for illegal squatters. Manchester City Council said it was working with the people who have settled there - mainly Lithuanians, Poles and Albanians - the help them with accommodation.

CAVENDISH PRESS The shanty town has a widescreen TV and even a carved pumpkin

CAVENDISH PRESS The rough sleepers are mainly Lithuanians, Poles and Albanians

But nearby businesses were horrified to see the emergence of the shanty town and it will put customers off. One business owner said: "I can't understand why the council don't tell them to move on. The people living there have been very aggressive with me when I have approached them and it looks a mess.

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We want them to take up our offers of temporary accommodation A Manchester City Council spokesman

"They arrived a few days ago and it looks like they are there to stay. "I think it looks like a mini version of the Jungle at Calais. It must look awful for visitors to the city." In the past few weeks dozens of rough sleepers have moved on from the Ark - a site near Manchester Metropolitan University - in a major police and council move. A Manchester City Council spokesman said: "Members of our homelessness outreach team have visited the tents since they first appeared, and offered the occupants accommodation, help and support.

"Several people based there have been found accommodation while others have been put in touch with medical and other services, but others based there have refused to engage with our staff. "We are continuing to engage with people on the site as we want them to take up our offers of temporary accommodation - potentially in some of the additional bed spaces which we have recently made available. This will enable a full assessment of their needs to take place." Residents at the site refused to comment.