South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | November | 18
From the archive, first published Friday 18th Nov 2005.
A HOMELESS Iranian woman has been dropped off in South Gloucestershire as she moves ever closer to her children in London.
On Wednesday, Mahin, who is well known in South Wales after living with nothing but her bags by roadsides for more than two years, requested to be left a mile away from Aust Service Station by a charity worker as she took another step closer to reaching her beloved children.
The woman, known only by her first name, was picked up by charity worker and Newport councillor Laura Buchanan-Smith in Newport and then taken to Aust before being left with food, blankets and a small amount of money.
"She told me she wanted to get away from South Wales, so I offered her a lift across the Severn Bridge and she accepted," Cllr Buchanan-Smith told the Gazette.
"I told her that she should go across country towards Oxfordshire to get to London."
Cllr Buchanan-Smith claimed that although Mahin has been sleeping rough for over 20 years, she is still concerned for her safety.
"My daughter and I are going to keep seeing her until she moves on," she added.
"She is no trouble to society, but could be very vulnerable if picked on."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008