Squatters reoccupied a £1m Oxford home just hours after being evicted by police - and have pledged to carry on living there.

Police forced their way into the terraced house in Walton Street, Jericho, last Thursday but when the squatters were released without charge, they simply walked back to the house and climbed in through an open window.

Officers believe the squatters tricked the house's owner, who also lives in Walton Street, by pretending to be interested in buying it, then refusing to leave and give him the keys back.

The eight squatters, who refused to give their full names, invited the Oxford Mail to see inside the house. They say they are good neighbours.

The house was up for sale priced at £1m but it has now had to be taken off the market, estate agents Carter Jonas confirmed yesterday.

A squatter, called Matt B, said: "What the police said about us being conmen is rubbish and none of us are druggies.

"We saw the window was open and the house was abandoned three weeks ago, so we climbed in. We got raided for drugs but none of us do drugs apart from the odd bit of marijuana.

"We don't cause any nuisance. We're just here because we're all homeless and want to stay in the warm."

He added: "I feel sympathy for the owner. It's his house but we will look after it.

"It hasn't even been reported as a civil matter, so he can't be that bothered about it."

The group were arrested after police smashed through the front door but no drugs were found.

Matt B added: "The police didn't tell us not to come back. If they knocked on the door we could have shown them around. We kept it tidy and clean until the police smashed the doors down."

The group moved in through an open window three weeks ago then took down the For Sale sign from the front garden.

A squatter called Jay, 30, said: "We've been waiting for someone to come round and ask us to leave, but no-one has."

Matt B said: "I don't think a bloke would give you his keys to £1m house and leave it with us, do you? It's not the true story."

He added: "Apart from the doors which the police broke, it's a clean place. I think we have been good neighbours."

Insp Richard Brown said police were now working on securing a possession order and offering the owner, who they describe as vulnerable, advice and counselling.

Jericho councillor Susanna Pressel said: "I hope they leave quietly as soon as a possession order is obtained."

A neighbour in Walton Street said: "It's quiet but we would really like it to get resolved quickly."