A HOMELESS man who has transformed a town centre car park into his own residential garden has been told he must find somewhere else to live.

Richard Garstang, 59, has been living at the back of the staff car park under the Wyvern Theatre for around five months.

After starting out with just some cardboard and a few spare clothes to his name, Richard has amassed an impressive collection of soft toys, framed pictures and enough potted plants to give Alan Titchmarsh a run for his money.

Now he has been visited by the Street Patrol team from InSwindon who have told him he must leave and take his belongings with him.

Richard said: “When I first came here I didn’t have anything really but then this nice lady called Teresa from the Earth Angels group gave me a bed and some blankets.

“I’ve made all this myself by picking things up from pound shops and 50p shops, I get the flowers and plants from Morrisons.

“I want to make the place nice to live in, I’m not doing anyone any harm and I get on well with everyone.

“I even protect the cars in the car park for the people that work upstairs because you get some people up to no good round here.

“Where am I supposed to go with all this stuff, it’s not fair at all.”

Richard moved to Swindon from Reading to work as a printer in the 80s before falling on hard times.

He has dedicated different sections of his garden to the various people who have helped him since he arrived at the car park.

His gardens are named after the Earth Angels, the staff of Byron’s Wine Bar and a local hairdresser.

Simon Franklyn, Buildings Manager at the Wyvern Theatre, said: “We haven’t got a problem with Richard, he has always been fine with us.

“In fact last week one of our staff was being verbally abused by the service door and he ran over and protected her.”

A spokesman for Swindon Borough Council said: “We spoke to Mr Garstang yesterday and advised him that he cannot stay where he is as we have received complaints from local businesses.

“He is also sleeping in a private car park and secure area for those working in Theatre Square.

“We have not given Mr Garstang a deadline to move on, but we are keen to give him as much help as possible.

“In fact our Housing Options team were working hard to support him in his bid to secure sheltered accommodation, but he has not been in contact with the Council for two months.

“If Mr Garstang comes in to see our Housing Options duty officer, we will be happy to advise him of his housing options and refer him for an emergency bed for a period of time.”