A rough sleeper was photographed washing his feet and drinking water from the fountains at Marble Arch in London, in scenes highlighting a growing homelessness presence around one of the capital's most recognisable landmarks. The images, taken just yards from luxury hotels, exclusive car dealerships and multi-million-pound properties on nearby Park Lane, show dozens of people camping with bedding and belongings around the monument's gardens, underscoring the stark contrast between the area's wealth and the plight of those sleeping rough there.

The pictures emerged weeks after reports of an encampment of Eastern European migrants near the site, with some individuals reportedly travelling from Romania each summer to coincide with the tourist season, according to nearby workers. Local staff, including a Pret a Manger barista and an M&S security guard, described organised begging "shifts" and repeated shoplifting, with the group said to have been banned from M&S after stealing meat, alcohol and clothing worth hundreds of pounds. Transport for London and Westminster City Council have previously spent thousands of pounds clearing similar encampments from Park Lane, though the report notes the same individuals continue to return.