Matthew Prior, 43, and his girlfriend Shoni Baisden, 31, had been out shopping for two hours when they returned to their little tent set among two trees and gravestones in St Mary’s churchyard in Church Road, Slough.

They thought their stuff was safe, because it had always stayed untouched. But when they returned they were met by a pile of cinders and ashes, with two pillows remaining alongside the vandals’ empty cans of lager.

Their £50 tent – a gift from a Salvation Army old school pal of Matthew – and belongings including shoes, clothing and replacement birth certificates had all gone up in smoke among the tombstones on Sunday, February 1, during daylight hours while churchgoers were attending services.

Matthew, a former pupil at The Windsor Boys’ School and a divorced father-of-two sons, said: “You reach the stage when you think there are no good people in the world.

“Seeing our tent and belongings in a pile of ash was shocking and we did not know where to turn. The vicar had been very good to us and knew we were living there, along with three other vagrants.

“He kept us going with tea and cakes and funeral operators visiting the graveyard were also very kind.” Shoni, mother of a 15-year-old girl, is a former hotel chambermaid and housekeeper.

The couple, both jobless, met two years ago and hope to marry one day if they can get back into work and find a home. But life on the streets, never mind a graveyard and shop doorways, is unforgiving.

Shoni, educated at the former Langleywood School, said: “It was very scary in the graveyard at first and very spooky, and it is hard to sleep when you are freezing cold at 3am.” She added: “Without an address employers do not want to know you and landlords do not want to know anyone without a job.

“Besides, we would have to find a deposit of around £1,500 for a decent flat.” The couple have exhausted all their friends’ generosity after months of ‘sofa surfing’ and have fallen out with their estranged families.

Matthew’s livelihood fell apart two years ago when he gave up his Slough studio flat and joined a building firm.

He said: “I was promised work moving about the country in mobile company accommodation but it eventually fizzled out and promises were broken. I was jobless and homeless.” The Rev Andrew Allen, vicar of St Mary’s, said: “The burning down of their tent was out of character for what happens in the churchyard, but there have been incidents of aggression among the homeless who sleep there. I will know this couple by sight because they have been there for some months.

“It is a huge graveyard and their tent would not be seen by people attending services.The tent appeared to have been burned from the inside. Nobody had poured petrol over it.” Mr Allen, who has been at the church for nine years, says the homeless problem has been worsening recently and says that around five people sleep in the churchyard porch, grounds and alcoves every day of the week.

He said the Sunday afternoon soup run, run by a charity, is supervised by police and always attracts about 20 vagrants and rough sleepers who queue for an hour before it opens.

He added: “I provide tea, cakes and biscuits if anyone of them knocks on the door.” The couple are regulars at SHOC (Slough Homeless Our Concern) in Burlington Avenue, Slough, where they have made friends and use the computers and educational facilities.

Shoni said: “When you are down the system seems to put the boot in and every door shuts in your face.

“But the Salvation Army and Rotary Club are wonderful people and goodness knows what we would have done without them.” James Hanley, Salvation Army community shop manager, said: “We come across many tragic situations but this is a very distressing story. It beggars belief that vandals could burn down the tent of a homeless family.” Tom Conlin, of the Slough Rotary Club, has helped provide the couple with bedding and clean clothes from the Rotary warehouse on the trading estate.

He said: “Our emergency supplies normally go to starving people in the Balkans, so what has happened to this couple is a terrible indictment of our society.” After the arson attack the couple have lived on the banks of the Jubillee River and in Herschel Park.

Shoni added: “We have become a rock for each other and hopefully we will marry.”