Pensioner moves into TENT in his front garden to make way for his teenage children

The reason behind his unexpected change in living arrangements is the arrival of his three children who have taken up permanent residence with him in Walsall.

The pensioner felt that with two teenage girls and a 12-year-old boy in the mix, he had to think outside the box.

After giving up his bedroom to his daughters, he slept on the sofa in the living room for several months, with his son bedding down on a mattress 'in a cubby hole.'

The former soldier then hit on the solution of pitching up a tent in the garden of his home in Floyds Lane, Daw End, Walsall but it's not ideal, he says, and he is hoping Walsall housing bosses will be able to provide the family with something more suitable.

The children - Lauren, 15, Elise, 14, and Lewis, 12 - used to live with their mother, his ex-partner, until February when she became unwell, he says.

"I'm knocking on a bit now but I was happy to have them, in fact it's given me a new lease of life. The trouble is we can't all cram into a little bungalow.

" I got the girls some guest beds but Lewis had to bed down in a cubby hole, like a storage area, which was a bit claustrophobic, so he loves the tent. It's like a den for him."

In the meantime Mr Tompkins has had a couple of bids to Walsall Housing Group turned down.

"I can't entirely blame them as there aren't enough properties available - but in Rushall it seems to be a case of waiting for someone to die.

"While we wait, I felt I needed to give the girls a bit of privacy, and put up the back end of a trailer tent in the garden for me and Lewis about three weeks ago but it's not a permanent solution.

"They all go to Aldridge School, although Lauren's just finished and will be going to college in September, but they love it there and I don't want them to have to move."

The former bus and truck driver, who was a member of the Royal Signals for nine years, serving in Northern Ireland, retired early from his last driving job on health grounds following a work-related injury.

Sleeping under canvas outside is not recommended for his health, he says, but at least the neighbours don't mind his new alfresco arrangement.

"They've been great," he says. "There's three very nice old ladies in the street and they're enjoying the company. One of them brought over a bread pudding for us, and the other day Louis made a cheese macaroni dish at school and brought it round to her as a thank-you. We love it here but it can't carry on, " said Mr Tompkins.

Robert Gilham, corporate director of operations at whg, said: "When Mr Tompkins first moved into his current one-bedroom property it suited his requirements. Unfortunately his situation has now changed and he needs a larger property.

"We are working with Mr Tompkins to do all we can to help him move to a more suitable property with his children.

"Mr Tompkins has been given gold band status, which is our top priority for customers who need to move due to severe overcrowding.

"We are also in the process of direct matching him with a property that meets his needs as soon as one becomes available."