Locals' homes in one of Britain's 'tent cities' are being vandalized daily and require bouncers to patrol the streets, despite being next to a millionaire's playground.
Camborne, Cornwallwas once the richest mining town in the world, but has been ravaged by poverty, unemployment and drug use in recent years.
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Residents claim it was abandoned by the authorities because it is so idyllic St Ives Due to its rapid growth, the city has become one of the most deprived areas in Europe.
The cemetery of the medieval St Martin and St Meriadoc Church is now overrun with rough sleepers, known as a tent city.
This was once a bustling high street with thriving businesses, but now there are a handful of shops selling alcohol and spirits drug users come together, claim the locals.
Tracey Rail, 60, a lifelong resident, said: “I think it's sad what happened Camborneit is now quite rugged and desolate.
“A lot of shops are closed, all we have are charity shops, estate agents and betting shops. I don't think there is much for young people to do.
'I've heard stories about what it's like not safe to walk around Camborne at night, but I didn't do it myself for that reason.
“Employment is one of the biggest problems. We used to have the industry from mining, now it's basically normal retail and much of the employment is temporary because it is a holiday sector.
“It has certainly gotten worse in recent years. Many shops are empty and there are homeless people sleeping in the doorways.
“It is sometimes uncomfortable to walk through Camborne due to the large number of homeless people.
'The fact that they are homeless is shocking and awful and terrible.
“I walk through the cemetery to reach the city and the amount of tents is quite uncomfortable that people have to live like this.
“But the question is: where are the services?”
Nate Harris, 32, who has experienced several bouts of homelessness over the past decade, says help has evaporated.
He said: “I don't do drugs or drink alcohol, but I still get targeted, the way I do, I get judged by what other people do.
“All the doorways that are boarded up are places I used to sit to get out of the rain.
“Instead of helping me get in somewhere, they make sure I have nowhere to go to stay dry.
There are many tents around the area as people struggle to survive and then turn to drugs and alcohol
Nick Johnson
“There is no help for the people here. They kept putting me in supported accommodation while they tried to find me something permanent, but that never happened.
“I would be the last person in the house, then it would be sold and I would be put back on the street.
“Camborne has become a dog-eat-dog world lately, people have really become so selfish and rob each other.
'Prices are rising and rising and people are desperate.
“I understand why they don't want people sitting in doorways, but it's not like I have any choice. I'm not asking for anything, I'm just sitting here drawing.”
In the town's central square, where minutes earlier three people had argued loudly while drinking strong cider, another resident said he felt compassion for those struggling.
Nick Johnson, 49, who moved to Camborne a year ago, praised people living in the town but said they were “under a lot of stress”.
He said: “There are a lot of tents around the area because people are struggling to make a living and then get into drugs and alcohol.
The municipality doesn't care about us, we are the poor relationship
Hilary Bond
“You see a lot of people in doorways and it's sad to see. There are many stores that have gone bankrupt. Since I've been here there must have been five or six stores that have gone out of business and that's really bad.
“Here and Redruth are the hardest places to get around, they both have problems with drug use and don't sleep well.
“Camborne has a lot more to offer than people realise. There are a lot of good people here who don't sleep well.”
Hilary Bond, 63, church administrator, added: “Camborne is changing, in the last year there has been a lot more drug use on the high street and anti-social behaviour.
“I don't feel unsafe, but it's a changing environment because of poverty, depression and no jobs.
“I don't know if people choose to live in tents in the cemetery or if it's just a sign of the times.
“If you go around Truro there is no litter on the streets because all the money is spent there and we are forgotten.
“People in my street come out every Sunday to pick up litter. That shouldn't be the case, but the municipality doesn't care about us, we are the poor family.”
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