A SEVERELY disabled man who has been forced to live in a budget hotel for the last four months fears he could be out on the streets next week.

Marcus Bradford, 48, has been living at the Premier Inn in St Peter's Street, Colchester, since February with his stay being paid for by Essex County Council's social services .

He had previously been residing in Mid Meadows care home in Frinton but it became unsuitable for his needs so he was placed in the hotel.

Now he has been told his duty of care is being moved from social services to Colchester Borough Homes on May 30 but he is concerned the change will see him forced to live on the streets.

Mr Bradford is forced to use an electric wheelchair after being left paralysed by a severe stroke 14 years ago. He has also had two heart attacks and is diabetic.

He said: "I feel like I have been passed from pillar to post.

"Social services placed me in the Premier Inn but now they have turned round and said I am not their responsibility, it is down to the council.

"There are no cooking facilities so it means I am forced to have takeaways almost every night - it is not the sort of diet suitable for me.

"It feels like nobody gives a monkeys and it is driving me nuts.

"The hotel and the staff have been absolutely excellent with me, but they are not going to let me stay here if nobody pays them any money for the room.

"I worry at the end of every month I am going to have to leave and it is getting too much. The stress is terrible.

"I cannot end up out on the streets, I'm in an electric wheelchair and for a start there would not be anywhere to charge it."

Mr Bradford, who worked as a barman before his myriad of health problems sparked by a blood clot in his brain which caused a stroke and left him unable to walk again, said he ultimately wants to move into a home specially adapted to his needs.

He said: "I have got no family to go and stay with and I would need a specially adapted property - I am wheelchair bound all of the time."

A spokesman for Colchester Borough Homes confirmed Mr Bradford would continue to stay at the hotel until a suitable home could be found.

She said: "It has been agreed that Mr Bradford will continue to reside at the Premier Inn whilst every effort is made to find him suitable housing for his needs.

"We will be in regular contact with Mr Bradford whilst this process is underway and suitable housing is ultimately found for him.”

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “We acknowledge Mr Bradford’s concerns and have been actively working with Colchester Council to ensure that Mr Bradford’s ongoing housing and any social care needs are supported. "We have been in contact with Mr Bradford and he has been assigned support staff to work with him to ensure his housing needs are met.”