SQUATTERS

When an uninvited intruder moving onto his land complete with car and caravan, Alan Roberts decided to take matters into his own hands. While the illegal tenant was still soundly asleep, Mr Roberts got into his JCB forklift. First, he picked up the man's Vauxhall Cavalier from its spot on one of his fields and dumped it outside his land. Then he returned to scoop up the caravan, still housing the unsuspecting squatter.

As it was lifted into the air, the man appeared at the window looking rather startled to discover he was suddenly airbourne. Mr Roberts said it was the second time in a week that the mystery man had parked the vehicles on his land. Spokeswoman for Humberside Police, Lisa Fleming, said, "Police attended but it is a civil dispute between the landowner and the vehicle and caravan owner. Officers spoke to both parties and the caravan owner volunteered to move his vehicle within 24 hours." (Source: Mail on Sunday, Sep/06)

Fifteen squatters occupied an 18th Century mansion - valued at up to £20m, in one of London's most desirable areas, covered it in graffiti and used it for raves. One squatter, Nick, from Munich, said, "We intend to stay here for as long as possible and use it as a major party location." He added, "This building is fantastic, it's free and nobody is using it." Fellow resident Julie, a French waitress, said, "It's well known in Europe that, thanks to English law, we are given plenty of time to get out." By moving in, the squatters became the recognised occupiers of the property. It would be illegal for the owners to take back posession of the house without a court order. The Metropolitan Police cannot act unless there has been an allegation of criminal damage.

A squatter who was granted possession of a council house he occupied for 13 years said he was heading for the sun after selling it for an estimated £100,000. A judge awarded him the four-bedroom Victorian semi-detached home in Brixton, south London, after Lambeth Council forgot it owned the house along with 19 others. Commonly known as "squatters' rights", a loophole in the 1980 Limitations Act means that anyone occupying a property unchallenged for 12 years may acquire legal ownership.

A squatter was awarded legal ownership of a house valued at £200,000 in south London. He was allowed to keep his Brixton council home because the local authority had made no attempt to look after it during the 16 years he had lived there. The High Court decision enraged neighbours because he had paid no rent or council tax for the property. Leader of Lambeth Council, Jim Dixon, was contrite, and said, "It's up to the council to manage all its assets properly and clearly this has not happened. We need to learn the lessons from that and ensure it does not happen again."