Protesters who broke into a site earmarked for a controversial housing project have called on developers to ditch their suits and join their sustainable community - as it will be there for the long term.

Green campaigners, who scaled the wall to the former Scottish Widow site in Brentford, more than a week ago, have already cleared much of the land and are preparing to hold their first public meeting tomorrow with plans to hold an open day on Saturday for families living nearby.

Although protesters are not campaigning against the multi-storey development by developer St George, they say neighbours of the Kew Bridge site were pleased with the eco village as it could stall riverside development plans.

Eco-villager Simon, who left a 9 to 5 job to become a protester, said the community had been more than welcoming, bringing the group cakes and donations.

He said: “People who live nearby do want a development like this, families have come in and help plant potatoes. I think once they saw for themselves what we were doing, they were really excited and offered suggestions which is what we want. We are even asking people to help name the eco-village as it is for everyone.

“I used to work and be part of that work, drinking, smoking group but now I treasure my life so much more. And people should see now that money should not be a huge part of your life. What we are doing, sustainable living, is possible.”

Protesters, along with teenagers and families from Brentford, have installed a compost toilet, a small covered cafe area, and a kitchen, on the site, near Kew Bridge.

Villagers said they wanted St George, whose managing director Ian Dobie is also chairman of Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust, to look at adopting the eco-village as a permanent fixture to the land.

But Mr Dobie, who last week referred to the villagers as “squatters”, this week refused to comment on his company’s plans for the area.

Last year St George had to slash the number of flats it planned to build from 300 to about 160 but critics Brentford Community Council still slammed proposals claiming it failed to address original objections.