KIND-HEARTED Halesowen residents have rallied round a young homeless man - with a businessman giving him a job and a crowdfunding page raising more than £2k to help him get a new start in life.

Anthony Turner, who is also known as Tony Lavell, has been sleeping rough in the multi-storey car park on Pool Road for more than six weeks.

The 28-year-old's plight caught the attention of many in Halesowen with wellwishers bringing him food, books and other items - and now local businessman Phil Tromans has offered him a job which he starts tomorrow (Tuesday).

To keep the post Anthony needs a permanent address so in stepped Sherry Ann Lea Davies who set up the Crowdfunding page to help him secure a flat.

The page, which can be found at http://bit.ly/2U9BvW7, states: "Weʼre raising £1,500 to help Tony Lavell our homeless guy in the car park get a flat, so he can start a job with a company in Cradley and manage till payday."

The £1.5k target has been smashed, pulling in £2.1k already, with Anthony beginning his new life this week.

Anthony, who is now staying in a hotel, and is looking at a flat on Wednesday said he had been "totally overwhelmed" by the kindness of people, including one man who brought him a coffee and hot food every night.

He completed his induction at his new workplace today (Monday) and said it went well.

He said: "I've had a big stroke of luck.

"It's a new start for me - I'm really looking forward to the future - it looks amazing."

He pledged to give any money left after he has secured a flat, put down a deposit and furnished it, to the Hope Centre in Halesowen for the "brilliant" support it has given him.

Halesowen councillor David Vickers, who has been trying to help Anthony and speaks to him regularly, said he was touched at how Halesowen residents had rallied round him.

He said: "It's wonderful, it's so nice to see what a heart the people of Halesowen have.

"It's beautiful.

"Tony's a very intelligent lad - it's up to him now - Phil has set him up with a job at a metal reclamation yard and if they can find him a home he's got an excellent chance - I really hope it works out for him."

Cllr Vickers said he had tried to secure housing for Anthony through the council but had come up against the stumbling block of him being too young for flats in Halesowen, which are available for people over age 35.

Tony said he had been in care since age three and had "never really felt settled anywhere" - but now his future looks bright thanks to the people of Halesowen.