HEREFORDSHIRE Council has defended itself against a former SAS soldier who has criticised the lack of housing support he has received.

The Sun newspaper claims today that Bob Curry, 64, who was a hero of the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege, when he helped to free 19 hostages, has been left homeless after the council failed to home him.

In the article which featured on the front page of the national newspaper today Mr Curry stated that he is temporarily living in a B&B paid for by charity handouts due to a lack of council support.

However, in response Herefordshire Council said: “We can confirm that it is actively working with this individual to secure accommodation within the county.

“Unfortunately, to date the individual has not provided all the documentation needed to legally register for housing.  However, regardless of this, the council’s housing team has found and offered two different forms of accommodation, in areas which were agreeable to the individual, but which have subsequently been turned down.

“We are continuing to work with the individual to help them secure appropriate housing.”

The Sun state that the former SAS soldier fell on hard times when a business collapsed last year and he lost his home after splitting up with his partner of 25 years.

The Sun said that Mr Curry ‘told of his despair at facing life on the streets - broke and homeless after decades of service to his country.’

“It was as if the society I had fought for all my life had turned its back on me,” he told the Sun.

“I've been in tough spots through my career but with my health now I wouldn’t have survived long on the streets — SAS training or not.

“I was sat in the council offices explaining my life to someone who looked at me as though I was nothing. It's hard to go cap in hand to the council and ask for help. I hated it but I had no choice.”

Mr Curry told the Sun that the only place the council could offer him was a ‘hostel containing ex-crooks, drug addicts and people with mental problems.

Bob stated that he could only cope there for two nights in the hostel.

He asked the Royal British Legion and SAS Regimental Association if they could help.

They found B&B accommodation in Hereford but only for 28 days.

The Sun has now backed a petition by SAS legend Andy McNab to urge Herefordshire County Council to recognise Bob’s service to his country and find him a permanent, suitable home.