AN 89-year-old widow is desperately looking for somewhere to live after a series of heart-breaking events left her homeless and alone.

Doreen Gwynn, the widow of Kenneth 'Tony' Gwynn, 74, who was reported missing and found dead on June 6 by police, is currently staying at the Duke of York in Cowes.

The couple, who were married for nearly 40 years, rented a home in Totland before the landlady issued a notice that she wished to sell the property.

They could not find somewhere in time and stayed in B&Bs on the Island and mainland for months with their five-old shih tzu Freya.

As many places would not allow them to stay with their dog, the couple found it difficult to find places to stay and began sleeping in their car, with all their possessions locked away in storage.

Doreen told the County Press that they had "both got so tired just driving around in the car" and that on the morning of June 1, after staying overnight in their vehicle in Yarmouth, Tony left and never came back.

The police insisted she should stay at a place in Ryde, but Freya would not be welcome, and the pair would have to be separated, something that Doreen refused to do.

She was concerned that if Freya was taken from her, she may never see her again.

Doreen said: “I have never been alone before; Freya is the only thing I have left in the world.

“She is the most important thing in my life, very, very important, and I couldn’t bear to let her go.”

“She is the nicest natured dog. She’s lovely, really caring. She’s smashing.

Police took Doreen to the Duke of York pub on June 3, who took her and her dog in.

“They couldn’t make me feel any more welcome, it’s like a big family,” Doreen said.

The Duke of York community in Cowes has clubbed together to buy Doreen a phone and keep a roof over her head.

She can stay at the Cowes hotel until Wednesday, after which they are fully booked, and Doreen will have nowhere to go.

Doreen said: “I don’t know what to do. I feel useless. I feel like I’m begging.”

If you can help, contact Doreen via the Duke of York on 01983 295171 or email bookings@dukeofyorkcowes.co.uk.