Homeless woman found living in bush for three years as she couldn't bear leaving her cat

A homeless woman spent three years living in a bush because she couldn't bear to be separated from her cat.

The woman was discovered by tree surgeon Gareth Olsen, 43, when he was working in a field in Chester.

He said one of his team was in a tractor clearing the area and "a little hand appeared out of the hedge waving and saying, 'I live ,here.'"

Olsen said the woman told him she didn't want to give up the cat she described as her “soulmate” and accommodation she previously found would not accept it.

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Olsen said: "It's such a sad story. I felt so shocked and sorry for her. I was clearing a piece of land for a private landlord and it hadn't been touched for years.

"One of our guys was in a tractor and a little hand appeared out of the hedge waving and saying 'I live here'."

The woman's makeshift home consisted of a tarpaulin, a few umbrellas, a sleeping bag, blankets and cushions, with her possessions scattered around in bags and boxes.

Olsen said he connected the woman with the charity Supporting Homeless, Assisting Refugees Everywhere (SHARE).

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Olsen, who is the chair of charity Deeside Round Table, added: "Bless her. When I first met her I said I hope you don't mind me asking but how long have you been here and she said a couple of years – probably two or three.

"I asked her how she was managing and she said she was quite a hardy person and all she really needed was a sleeping bag as hers had seen better days. She was clearly not doing well.

"She was awfully nervous too, thinking we were going to kick her off the site. I said no, I'd like to try to help her. I wasn't leaving her there."

Adam Dandy, from SHARE, said its outreach team was informed and with the assistance of other local agencies the woman is now receiving help to find housing.

He said: “Whilst this incident is shocking to us all, we would like to thank everyone involved in helping us to help this lady as soon as we were informed of her location and predicament, especially ForFutures, Cheshire West and Chester Council, and Chester Police, and special thanks to the tree surgeon Gareth Olsen.”