He added: "But I don't really blame them. Why should they give me any money? As far as they know I might be some drug addict or alcoholic expecting a free hand out, only to put the cash towards my next fix. In their situation I would probably do the same.

"In the days leading up to this investigation I have been nervous and worried. My head has been swimming with thoughts of 'what might happen, where will I sleep and will I be safe?'.

"This is despite the fact that I know that in just two days it will be all over. Heaven knows what it is like facing these uncertainties every single day. And so far this is panning out just as I feared. It has only just begun and I hate it."

David's second day was a little more successful as he made £7 selling the Big Issue and was offered a lifeline by the YMCA - which had a rare room free.

David said: "The only problem is I have to find £44 towards the first two weeks' rent, the rest of which will be covered by benefits.

"But in my situation, which the YMCA worker admits is increasingly common, I have no means of cash and need more time to raise some by selling more copies of the Big Issue.

"I could be eligible for emergency assistance but that takes at least 24 hours to clear. So there is no other option than to head back out on to the streets.

"Back to the library, back to walking aimlessly around, back to the soup run, back to a broken night's sleep on a concrete floor.

"All with the aim of killing time until the 48 hours is over and I can return to a warm home, nice meal and proper bed. Unfortunately, many others are not so lucky."

During David's investigation he also spoke to many homeless people - who welcomed what he was doing - and some of their experiences were used in the resulting front page splash and two-page report on Thursday, followed by a further two pages on Friday.

In addition his diary was published online and a video report, which included a response from the council, was uploaded to www.eveningnews24.co.uk

David said: "Being homeless is a lonely, intimidating, frustrating and often boring experience.

"It felt a bit like that film Groundhog Day where every day is the same and there appears to be no way of getting out of the vicious loop."