Squatters occupying the Home of Compassion have been evicted in a dawn operation this morning.

Officers from Surrey Police and The Sheriffs Office, which enforces court writs, moved into the building in Thames Ditton High Street early on Thursday, November 18.

The grade II listed building was taken over by squatters, who claimed they were “caretakers”, on Saturday, October 16.

Owner Care Homes bought the property in September 2008 to use as a care home, but a lack of funding had left it empty.

Squatter Phoenix, who took part in last year's occupation of Raven's Ait, had earlier told the Elmbridge Guardian they would leave when the company could put the building to community use.

He said: "Call it an interim period. It will be maybe two years before Caring Homes will get the money to do something here.

“In the meantime, we are the caretakers here.”