S Tent City Where Romanian Beggars Live Yards From Posh Homes | UK | News...

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As the sun rises on Park Lane Maria sticks her head out of her tent and squints at the Aston Martin showroom across the road. Around her, others unzip their doors, stretch and slip on flip-flops before heading to a camping stove where a boiling pan of water will be poured into mugs piled high with instant coffee.

Anyone who's played Monopoly will know this campsite sits on just about the most valuable piece of land in London. For those wishing to stay at one of the neighbouring hotels, like The Dorchester or 45 Park Lane, rooms cost a minimum of £1,000 a night.

The camp was well-equipped to handle her arrival. The majority of tents are filled with blankets and mattresses, while elevated from the ground on wooden pallets to keep the cold away.

Fresh water is plentiful thanks to donated tanks from office water coolers, most of which are piled in Marks and Spencer trollies, and large meals are prepared from gifted food at a rectangular table with a London bus plastic tablecloth.

Asked to describe a typical day Maria rubbed her eyes and then replied: "In the morning I wake up and wash my face and hands with the water we receive.

The Express discovered her slumped outside the Marriott around midday. Pressed against the stone facade, she had removed her shoes and had her toes poking out of a blanket. Propped beside her was a plastic cup with silver coins and a sign that read: "Please help homeless, God bless."

Many nearly identical versions can be found across central London in the hands of non-English speaking beggars every day and, following our trip to the camp, we spoke to three other beggars all of whom had extremely similar placards, two in the same handwriting.