A bone-chilling wind blows a squall of rain in from the North Sea, rattling across the torn canvas of a tent pitched between a public loo and an old folks' home.
It is sheltered slightly by a stand of bushes which at least shield it from the curious gaze of dog walkers and any tourists prepared to brave the blustery weather.
At various points along the sea front in the faded coastal resort of Bridlington, East Yorks, there are tents pitched, some easily visible, others carefully hidden in bushes and stands of trees.
They are the last defence against the elements of a growing band of
rough sleepers in a town whose public services are now drowning under a rising tide of homelessness.
Shocking figures show that since 2021 the number of people considered homeless in East Yorkshire has increased five-fold, and Bridlington accounts for the vast majority of them.
At the weekend the Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced controversial plans to ban homeless people from sleeping in tents on the street and claimed it was sometimes a "lifestyle choice".
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In Bridlington, tent dwellers told The Sun they had few options. One said: "No one chooses that life."
A tattered grey tent on the seafront was accompanied by a smaller, yellow one-man version and just behind the promenade, carefully hidden away inside a sprawling bush, there was a third.
In the town centre, tucked away underneath a flyover, another temporary canvas home was occupied by Mick, a wheelchair user who spends his nights there and his days flitting from one shop doorway to the next.
It is estimated that there are 110 homeless people currently living in Bridlington.
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The historic port has one of the most deprived areas in England, with West Bridlington having the second lowest average wage in the country.
The homeless crisis is placing a growing burden on the local authority as they try to find temporary accommodation for everyone who needs it.
In 2021 East Riding of Yorkshire Council spent £26,000 on such housing – this year the total spend was £189,000.
Many of those affected are 'sofa surfing,' moving from one friend's house to the next, desperately trying to keep a roof over their heads – and they are the lucky ones.
'It's best not to be on view'
Daniel Martin, a 42-year-old dad and a former builder, is currently one of Bridlington's homeless residents who survives in a tent.
He's careful about how much he reveals about where he spends his nights.
Clutching his bedding in a plastic carrier bag to keep it dry, Daniel said: "I don't like to tell too many people where I spend my nights, the tent is hidden.
"People in this town are pretty understanding as it happens but if you're sleeping outside it's best not to be on view, it avoids any trouble and that's the last thing you want.
The winter is starting to come in and it's cold now, too cold to be in the tent much longer
"I'm from a travelling family anyway so it doesn't bother me to be sleeping outside, however, the winter is starting to come in and it's cold now, too cold to be in the tent much longer."
He clutches a styrofoam coffee cup between his hands to warm them and is wearing a flat cap and three layers of thick clothing.
Daniel's days are spent in the town centre, doing his best to stay under the radar of the locals, never loitering too long in one place.
He adds: "I wasn't always like this, I was a builder and worked for years in a foundry, I was a proper hard worker because that's all I'd known.
"I'm Scottish-born and grew up in Nottingham and Sheffield, I had a partner and I have kids who I still see as often as I can."
The break-up of his relationship and a serious car accident that prevented him from working combined to put Daniel on the streets.
He said: "I don't complain about it, this life isn't a miserable one and when it gets too cold I'll find a place indoors, moving around friends and probably the occasional B&B.
"I have my income, I get £300-£400 in Universal Credit which keeps me in food and warm clothes, which is all I really need."
But the life of a rough sleeper can be deadly.
Daniel continued: "A couple of weeks ago one of the rough sleepers died and when that sort of thing happens it's really sad.
"She was only 37 and seems to have had too much to drink along with sleeping pills and it caused a seizure."
Asked why he spends much of his time in Bridlington, he says the answer is simple.
"People know that if they are homeless they will be welcome in Bridlington. It has a really good heart," he said.
Faking homelessness
Some claim that Bridlington's warm welcome to life's least fortunate is being exploited by beggars who are not homeless.
It follows a Sun investigation that revealed a begging gang were raking in £500 a day in Bath – taking money away from the genuinely needy by preying on the public's good nature.
Maggie Masters, one of the dedicated volunteers at Bridlington's Salvation Army hostel, said: "There are a significant number of people who come in from places like Hull and pretend to be homeless, begging for money.
"There was one girl a little while ago who was claiming to be homeless and begging on the street just around the corner from her flat.
"It's upsetting that people are prepared to exploit generosity when we are running out of tents and sleeping bags for people who are sleeping outside with winter arriving."
The hostel holds weekly lunches for the homeless and raises funds to help them by holding cut-price sales of toys and household goods.
A few streets away the Kingfisher Cafe, set up to give warm meals to the homeless and needy 12 years ago, is full.
Every table is occupied by someone currently homeless or in emergency accommodation.
One of them, a former Royal Marine who didn't wish to be identified, could barely contain his emotions as he thanked staff for his tea and breakfast roll.
"I served my country, I was blown up in Iraq," he said.
"I've never been in this situation in my life until now and I'm still adjusting to being homeless."
Safe from the street
David Simpson, 41, now has a roof over his head but he knows the despair of sleeping rough.
Supping a cup of tea at his table in the Kingfisher, David said: "My problem was with alcohol and substance abuse and the way I behaved while I was in the grip of it. It got me thrown out of flats and I ended up in jail.
"I feel lucky now, I have a room in a shared house. It isn't much but it's a place to call home and I know what it feels like to be without one.
"Living in a tent you only have a piece of canvas between you and the outside world and you just don't feel safe.
"There are people in this town who send their kids down to hassle those living in tents and knock them down.
"No one chooses that life."
Cook Anette Pitchers, 66, busies herself serving hot mugs and tea and coffee and cut-price bacon rolls.
She volunteers at the café because she knows only too well how its customers feel.
Anette said: "My partner died in the home we had together and I just couldn't be there so I made myself homeless. I lived that way for two years and it's the hardest life anyone could imagine.
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"Sometimes you just need a bit of kindness and love and that's what people get when they come here."
The Sun has contacted East Riding of Yorkshire Council for comment.
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