A mother-of-five has slept rough in a tent next to a fishing lake after being kicked out of her flat.

Jeanette Butcher, 52, spent four days living in a two-man tent by the lake just off Gordon Promenade East in Gravesend.

Left homeless after a disagreement with her landlord, Ms Butcher - formerly of The Hill, Northfleet - has been told by Gravesham council she is not eligible for emergency housing.

She has spent a few days living with her father, but says she is unable to live with him on a permanent basis as he has a heart condition and her grown-up children are unable to take her in.

Ms Butcher said: "The whole experience has been very stressful. I've been on anti-depressant tablets."

Sleeping without a blanket or pillow, Ms Butcher admitted she had no idea it would come to this.

She said: "I've got my air bed in there and some clothes and that's about it. I wasn't really prepared because I didn't think this would last that long."

Ms Butcher kept clean by having what she described as a "quick cat wash" in public toilets by the promenade cafe.

Having lost her job as a counter assistant at Cointron Amusements, in New Road, on Christmas Eve, she is currently claiming JobSeekers' Allowance.

The prospect of colder nights in the tent worry Ms Butcher.

She said: "I'm trying not to think about staying here in winter. I'm hoping it's not going to come to that."

A Gravesham council spokesman said those deemed a priority for housing included those with dependent children, the elderly and those with a serious physical or mental health problem.

Ms Butcher did not fall into any of those groups, he added.

The council has advised her on several alternative options, including a list of hostels in the borough and other parts of Kent; the contact details of Porchlight, Kent's rough sleeper charity and advice on securing accommodation in the private rented sector.

Porchlight is helping Ms Butcher find a new home.