A former soldier forced to sleep in a friend's car after the breakdown of his marriage left him homeless has slammed a local authority for failing to help.
Lee Butler, 43, lived in London with his ex-wife but returned to the North East in August last year and has been sofa surfing or sleeping in a car ever since.
Originally from Wallsend, Lee contacted North Tyneside Council to say he was homeless and asked to be made a priority on the council housing list but he says he was told it wouldn't be possible - because he could live with his estranged wife as they are still legally married.
