Homeless man’s ordeal

attracts tourists “day and night”. It has been immortalised by the story of Greyfriars Bobby – the loyal terrier who guarded his owner John Gray’s grave for 14 years after he passed away in 1858.

The story inspired Disney’s film about the dog which died in 1872.

Poet William McGonagall – known as one of Scotland’s worst bards is buried on the site. He died in 1902.

Harry Potter fans also f lock to the kirkyard to visit the grave of Tom Riddell who died in 1806 after author JK Rowling revealed his grave inspired the real name of villain Lord Voldemort in her books.

Former roads worker Kevin, who tries to make ends meet begging in the city centre, added: “Homelessness is a big problem in Edinburgh and is definitely getting worse.

“I was at Princes Street before but have been at Greyfriars for a few months. “I like the peace and quiet. “Tours go on until late at night but I’m often out begging at that time. I get on with the tourists and make sure I’m polite to everyone.”

Official figures in August showed the number of people sleeping rough in Scotland had risen for the second consecutive year and was up 10 per cent on two years ago.

Charity Homeless Action Scotland said rents in Edinburgh had gone up by more than 40 per cent in the capital in the last eight years “putting more and more pressure on vulnerable people”.

Research shows the average price of a property in Edinburgh is around £ 300,000. The homeless are also understood to have spent time in recent