Migrants camp at Imperial War Museum

A group of homeless east Europeans are sleeping rough outside the Imperial War Museum, leaving a trail of debris in their wake, according to staff.

Five men were tucked up in sleeping bags inside a stone circle in the museum’s Peace Garden today.

Workers said they have been forced to clean up human excrement, used condoms and beer cans.

The rough sleepers are part of a larger group of migrants who frequently sleep in the grounds and lodge in nearby homeless shelters.

Robyn Stone, 53, groundskeeper at the museum in Lambeth, said she had noticed a rise in numbers since Romanian travellers were moved on from Park Lane and Marble Arch in July.

She said: “They’ve been here a couple of months now, since the hot weather really. I’ve noticed they moved them on in the West End as it’s been highlighted in the news. We’ve been getting loads of people here, Romanians in particular. We do have to clear up beer cans, condoms — I found a used condom here this morning.”

The rough sleepers pack up their sleeping bags and blankets and stash them in bushes in front of the museum beneath a pair of huge gun from First World War battleships HMS Ramillies and HMS Resolution, she said.

The Peace Garden, which was opened by the Dalai Lama, lies in front of the Imperial War Museum.

One rough sleeper, Matas Krasnichas, 22, said he had been staying in the gardens since losing his job, where he had been earning enough to send home to support his sister through university. He said: “I’m from Lithuania, and have been in the park for about three weeks since I lost my job.”