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A woman with a full time job slept in a city centre phone box - because she still couldn't afford her rent.

The unnamed 61-year-old worked full time at a factory but said she couldn't afford more than a couple of nights in a B&B or hotel.

She worked night shifts, and decided it wasn't worth spending the money on somewhere to stay for a few hours once she finished.

So instead she slept in a phone box and then spent the day in cafes and libraries, Leicestershire Live reports .

The shocking tale came to light when a member of staff at Help the Homeless Leicester and UK met the woman during a weekly meal for the homeless.

Corrie Moulds, charity co-founder, said: “I’d noticed her a couple of times and tried to chat to her but she said she was ok, I assumed she had accommodation but was there just for the meal.

“Then about three weeks ago she took a hot water bottle so I pushed a little more and asked if she had money for heating, electric, and said we could help if she needed it.

“She was very coy and evasive but eventually she told me she had nowhere to live and that she was sleeping in a phone box.

(Image: Leicester Mercury WS)

“She told me she was working full time at a factory and worked night shifts five nights a week, whenever she could she was using her wages to stay at a B&B but on the nights she worked, she’d finish her shift and sleep in a phone box for a couple of hours before spending the day in cafes and libraries.

“She couldn’t afford more than one or two nights a week in a hotel or bed and breakfast and said it wasn’t worth going there after work.

“I couldn’t believe it when she said she was sleeping in a phone box, I couldn’t believe she’s a working woman and it had to come to this.”

As Corrie began to help her, the woman shared more of her back story.

She had lived alone in another city, retired at 60 and started to claim her private pension.

Soon after retiring she started to struggle financially and started to look for work again.

She struggled to find employment because of her age so moved to Leicester to stay with a family member.

After arriving she started work at a city factory with the intention of setting up a home of her own.

As time went on and she found she couldn’t afford the upfront costs involved and was struggling to raise a deposit or rent on anywhere close enough to work.

The arrangement to live with her relative was temporary and the woman felt she was becoming a burden so said she had found accommodation elsewhere and moved out.

Unbeknown to her family member she had nowhere to go and headed for the phone box.

Corrie said: “She was there for a few weeks, it’s horrible to think it had got to that point for her.

“It could happen to anyone and there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it.”

The charity, funded by donations from local people, have now put up a deposit and first month’s rent on a room in a shared house for the lady.

Corrie and the team have also provided crockery, furnishings and other items she needed to get set up in her new home.

To contact the charity search Facebook for Help the Homeless Leicester and UK.