A GROUP that set up accommodation for homeless people in a disused Volkswagen showroom in Iffley was given its final notice to vacate the premises yesterday.

Iffley Open House was at Oxford Crown Court on Friday to receive the notice and now has until February 27 to move out and find new accomodation for the homeless people staying on site.

Responding to the news on social media the group reacted with dismay at receiving the court order and has now put out a fresh appeal for help.

The group said: on Twitter “So, we have a possession order from Wadham College to vacate by 27th as expected.

“Let’s find a new home. Who will help?”

The final order follows a ruling in January when the court imposed a repossesion order but allwoed the group to remain until April 10, a date which was agreed by the leaseholders Midcounties Co-operative.

Wadham College, however, confirmed on Tuesday that it had secured an early termination of the company’s lease which allows it to enforce the eviction two months earlier than expected.

About 20 homeless people have been living there since the group found the doors unlocked on one of the coldest nights of the year on New Year’s Eve.

Wadham College wants to demolish the existing garage and build a new 135-bed student accommodation building re-named the Dorothy Wadham building for second year students.