Battersea: local woman who lived on a bench in Tooting for seven years has passed away

A local women who lived on the bench outside Tooting Library with her son, passed away on New Year's Eve.

Hawa Abdi Sharige's funeral took place Monday January, 3 at Al Muzzammil Mosque 8 Gatton Rd, after Zuhr prayer.

Tooting locals will likely be familiar with the mother and son who lived on various benches in South London after they were evicted from their home more than seven years ago.

The pair used to live in a council flat in Battersea, three miles from Tooting but after the death of a family member, they were unable to afford the rent and in February 2014, Wandsworth Council evicted them.

It is said that the council had made several attempts to re-home them, according to the BBC.

When they were first evicted they lived on the bench outside TK Maxx on Upper Tooting Road, a few hundred metres from the bench they resided outside the library.

However, whilst being hospitalised in December 2014 because of cold weather the council removed the bench, saying it was 'in their best interest.'

In 2015 the pair moved to the bench outside of the library and had been there ever since.

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