Rough sleepers on Tyneside are forced to let rats share their sleeping bags as they battle bitter winter weather.

But the warmth from the rodents is a comfort for some, and just 'part of life' on the streets.

We  joined the 'Changing Lives' dawn patrol.  The charity has seen a rise in numbers needing help in Newcastle upon Tyne due to Universal Credit.

The fate of those struggling with the benefits system was vividly portrayed in 'I, Daniel Blake', the award-winning film set in the city.

Before first light, from 6.15am, outreach workers Stuart Dawson and Michaela Patterson are out searching for rough sleepers.

They check car parks, doorways, subways, storage space tucked away behind busy thoroughfares, including the city's Northumberland St.

Rats were recently filmed in some of the areas, scurrying around rubbish looking for food.
Stuart, 40, and Michaela, 29, find homeless people with little more than cardboard and blankets to protect them against the biting -1C cold when we set off with them from Grey's Monument shortly after 6am.

First, they check for signs of life, making sure they are still breathing.  Then they offer assistance, giving details of the charity's drop in centre which provides food, a hot shower washing facilities and benefits advice.
"People may look all night for somewhere to sleep, and may not find a spot until four or five am," explained Stuart, who gets up at 4.30am to go out on patrol.
"We are Newcastle's alarm clock. When we wake them, they may not always be too happy to see us because it is so early.
"You do see rats at times, especially when it has been raining because the sewers are full and they come to the surface.
"The homeless have told us about rats getting into their sleeping bags.

Steven Southham, 34, from Sunderland who has being homeless for 10 years (
Image:
Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Mirror reporter Jeremy joins Michaela and Stuart checking on rough sleepers (
Image:
Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

"One man would open up his bag in the morning and just let them out as they helped him stay warm.
"Another said rats get into his tent and wake him up. It is just a normal part of life for them.

"I don't mind seeing them running around, I'm not scared of them.

"But I would not want to sleep with one." Michaela and Stuart are struck by how resourceful the homeless have to be just to get by.

"They build camps, find food, they are vulnerable, but they are survivors," said Michaela,
"I could not sleep for fear of whatever the night might bring. But they adapt."
Stuart, who has worked for the charity for 10 years, starting off in a hostel, adds: "Life on the street  has to be mentally, physically exhausting.

"It is not much of a life, it is more of an existence. It ages people.

"Just having a bed for the night, a hot drink, food, takes years off
them. They are transformed."

(
Image:
Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

Not all those on the streets conform to the homeless stereotypes.
'Mike the Mathematician', 53, under cover by shops next to the city library, is well spoken, intelligent and polite.

He spends his days going to various libraries, moving from town to town. He has been offered support in Newcastle, but is happy alone.

"He goes through the Maths sections," explains Michaela after chatting with him as he lies on the pavement in a sleeping bag.  "He has been seen by mental health and social workers. He is deemed to be of sound mind."  Stuart adds: "This is his personal choice. He has
always said he does not need our support.

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"He used to sleep on a bench by the civic centre,  it was peaceful,nobody bothered him. He had to move because live music at a local bar disturbed his sleep.

"We first met him about two months ago, all we have got his name and date of birth so far."

A dog walker has alerted the Street Link text service to a man in a subway at Exhibition Park.

At 6.45am, as commuters go past, 'unidentified male' is hidden from the world in his sleeping bag. 'I think I recognise his voice, but I'm  not sure," said Stuart.
"Sometimes all you get is a grunt, you know they are alive. We go back to check them later."

The three-hour patrol takes us to a car park close to the city's Marco Pierre White restaurant.An ad urges diners 'treat yourself' yards from where rough sleepers find shelter.  Steven Southam, 34, on the streets for the 10 years, tells us: "I would take a flat, but I don't want to be set up to fail again in a hostel."

His friend Dale has been stabbed four times living rough.

Toni Dickinson, 26, on the street for five years but now in a flat, feels 'really, really sorry' for those still out in the cold. "I did not want my family to see me like that," she recalls.

Toni is now living in a flat (
Image:
Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

Delays with Universal Credit mean many are struggling to stay in accommodation. Kevin Waggott,, team leader at the Changing Lives drop in centre,  explains how computer access and bank accounts are 'very very difficult' for their clients, with around 15 sleeping rough in
Newcastle city centre last November.

"And that leads to difficulties with benefits," he says.
"The alternatives are begging, crime, survival sex work, all very dangerous routes for people to go down if they are not getting access to money."

Changing Lives chief executive Stephen Bell warned the austerity measures combined with Universal credit were pushing more and more  people onto the street.

"It is not just here, it is across the country," he said. "We are  seeing it in Durham, York, Manchester.

"Austerity hits those on benefits the fastest. Rough sleeping has risen 150 per cent in five years, and many in our sector think that  figure could be much higher."
A DWP spokesperson said: “Universal Credit offers a range of specialised support to people struggling with homelessness and housing issues, including help with opening bank accounts, finding accommodation and budgeting.

"As part of the Rough Sleeping Strategy we have committed to establishing a single point of contact for homelessness issues in every jobcentre.”

Changing Lives is part of 'Street Zero' in Newcastle, a city-wide system which gets people off the streets and into safe accommodation.