A council says it will review its procedures after admitting officials threw away a homeless former England hockey star’s tent containing sentimental and important personal belongings.

Roly Brookeman, 67, is demanding compensation and an apology from Canterbury City Council, which ordered his eviction from land at the Abbots Mill in St Radigunds Street last month.

He says he lost clothes, a diary, passport, debit card and a print given to him by his children.

“It’s outrageous,” he said. “There were no signs saying you couldn’t camp. But I guess homeless people are seen as easy targets. I mean, you wouldn’t see the council chuck away stuff belonging to illegal travellers camps, would you?”

The authority served him an order to leave the area in 48 hours or his tent would be removed.

Mr Brookeman, who won 98 caps for England and Great Britain, insisted he was doing no harm and even helping to keep the area clear of rubbish.

“I only ever asked the council to cut me some slack and, to be fair, they have tried to help, but this is unacceptable. Replacing just my passport will cost me £90.”

Mr Brookeman won 98 caps for England and Great Britain in the 70s and 80s, coached the under 21s and then taught PE and English at St Edmund’s.

But he fell on hard times after the breakdown of his marriage and has been sleeping rough.

He added: “A friend has given me another tent and I am still hoping to get my own place but the council just cannot take my things and throw them away.”

A council spokesman said: “Although we served a notice on Mr Brookeman and gave him almost five days to comply, his possessions were left in the tent when our contractors disposed of it.

"We had absolutely no intention to worsen Mr Brookeman’s plight so will be carrying out a thorough review of our procedures. We have spoken with him and our community support team has offered its help to replace his belongings. We have also made a further offer to help him find a home.”

“In early June we offered to help Mr Brookeman including details of two suitable local properties, other forms of housing and potential financial help.

“But he told us he would be away for a while and we did not hear from him again until we received complaints from the public about the camp he had created.”

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