Squatters cause havoc for regulars

Squatters at Wolverhampton's derelict former eye infirmary are wreaking havoc with residents and drinkers at a nearby pub, it is claimed.

Staff at the Royal Oak on Compton Road have called for action from the police and council after a brick was thrown through a window. The attack followed an altercation in which bar staff told the squatters to leave because they were trying to empty cigarette bins to steal butt ends.

Landlord Keith Fullwood said they have caused around £400 of damage over the last year by ripping open eight bins in the pub garden.

The 55-year-old said: "They keep coming over trying to scrounge cigarettes.

"They empty the ash trays all over the place and they have broken open the bins a number of times.

"We need the police and the council to do something about it but they don't seem to be able to.

"It came to a head on Wednesday. I wasn't in but I'm told my staff asked one of them to go away and he picked up a brick and threw it through the window.

"Fortunately no-one was hurt but there were people in here at the time, it was only about 10pm."

Compton Road resident Richard Turner said: "The elderly gent who lives four doors down, told the council about dirty needles but was told it is private property, so he ended up picking them all up himself.

"The police have been informed but seem to be doing very little about the problems in the area."

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Jaspreet Jagdev said it would be down to the site's owners to evict the squatters.

Claudine Weekes, spokeswoman for the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We have a security company who make checks on the site three times a day.

"There has been evidence of people breaking in but not living at the hospital itself. However, we are aware of problems at a house next door which used to be staff quarters."