THE death of a homeless man in Taunton is a tragedy.

No matter what the circumstances, the fact someone has passed away in those circumstances should serve as a reminder to us all.

A reminder of how lucky many of us are to have friends, family, an income (no matter how meagre) - and somewhere to call home.

In a world where the colour of a passport is front-page news, stories such as that of ‘Scotch Alan’ should serve as a wake-up call, for we are all obsessed with the troubles of the trivial and too quick to dismiss the plight of others less fortunate than us, because that is all it often is that divides us - luck.

READ MORE: 'This shouldn't happen in Taunton'

People are living on our streets, while others are using foodbanks to ensure their children eat at Christmas - and demand is growing.

Things need to change.