Search for family with baby sleeping rough in park as tent found with cot inside

10 December 2023 , 17:08

1095     0

The tent and travel cot found abandoned in Brighton's Queens Park (Image: UKNIP)

An urgent search has been launched for a young couple and their 18-month-old son after police learned they had been sleeping rough.

A collapsed grey tent and white travel cot thought to belong to the family were discovered in Queen's Park, Brighton - where the trio were last seen. Authorities fear they may now be sleeping outside in the freezing conditions without shelter.

DSI Kris Ottery of Sussex Police said that officers have been carrying out aerial searches, using a helicopter and drones, as well as door-to-door enquiries. They have also been trawling through CCTV footage, but are still unable to locate the young family.

The boy is described as being just 18 months old, with pale skin, blond hair and rosy cheeks. The little one was last seen dressed in a thick red snowsuit and blue wellies.

The mother is described as a slim teenager who is around 5ft tall. She has blue eyes, messy blond hair and a northern accent.

Evicted family seeking help 'stranded' inside council office after staff go home

The man is in his late teens of early 20s, at least 6ft tall and last spotted wearing a black tracksuit and a scarf covering half of his face.

The family was last seen sitting close to the tennis courts in the eastern part of Queens Park. Sussex Police has asked anyone with information to contact 999, quoting Operation Sorrel.

Research conducted by homelessness charity, Shelter, at the start of the year found that at least 271,000 people are recorded as homeless in England, including 123,000 children. Of this staggering amount, as many as 2,400 are sleeping rough on any given night.

Ryan Fahey