A doting father who emigrated to France after falling in love claims he has been kicked out of the country and forced to move back to Woolwich - all because of Brexit.

Nazir Wilks, 31, had lived and worked in France since 2012, but after the EU referendum was left unable to find work - because French employers stopped hiring Brits, he says.

He grew up in Britain, but moved to Montpelier with girlfriend Marie in 2012 before she gave birth to son Quentin, now aged two-and-a-half.

The restaurant worker undertook a forklift truck driving course, but when he returned to his old boss in July - weeks after the vote - he was turned away and told to go back home.

He claims his former employer told him they would never hire British workers again because of Brexit.

Nazir was forced to use his savings to pay for a flight home for him and his young son, and is now couch-surfing with friends and family in Woolwich, where he lived for 12 years.

Nazir said: "I moved to France with Marie in March 2012, because she wanted to be with her friends and family.

"I'd always done seasonal work in restaurants, but took a year out to do a forklift truck driving course.

"But then all this talk about Brexit came along, and after the vote, everyone in France's view on British people completely changed.

"No-one wants to hire British people now, and most of them think we've left the EU already.

"It's going to be really costly for them to hire British people, so I just couldn't get any work at all.

"Marie and I split up because of personal reasons and she can't look after Quentin, so I was on my own with him.

"The French government were helping me until December with 200 Euros a month child support, but then they cut me off completely and I've been forced to come home."

News Shopper:

The pair landed back in Britain on Christmas Eve, and have been homeless since, because the government will not give them any sort of benefits until they have been here for three months.

They have been staying with relatives, but have now run out of places to go - and are facing life on the streets if help does not come soon.

Nazir added: "Me and my son can't live like this for much longer.

"The council said I can't get a home until I get income support, but I need to pass a habitual residency test for that - which I can't do, because I've been out the country for three years.

"Last week, they told me that I've failed it again.

"This test is for people who have been away and they need to determine whether I'm going to stay, but I have nowhere else to go.

"I want to settle in Woolwich - my siblings and friends are here, it's where I went to school - but they won't help me.

"I can't believe it, and neither can anyone else.

"People can't keep letting us stay, and I was lucky last night that I bumped into someone I knew.

"But today, I've been ringing around and I don't know where I can stay."

Greenwich Council has allegedly told Nazir it cannot help him because he has a child, and so can't stay in a homeless shelter.

He says social services told him  they cannot provide housing, and they "didn't understand that I have nowhere to go".

Nazir added: "No one can deal with people with children.

"Social services said they would take my son and I could find a separate solution but I want to look after my child, I just need somewhere for us to stay.

"I want us to get settled so I can get a job and work.

"I'm not angry, I'm just in total disbelief. I don't know what else to do."

A spokesperson from Greenwich Council said: "The Royal Borough of Greenwich remains in regular contact with the family concerned to provide advice in relation to their housing options.

"The Council recognises the difficulty the family are facing in this case but national homelessness legislation means that they are not entitled to social housing at present.

"The Council is, however, undertaking an assessment with the family and it is providing support and advice where it can.”