SQUATTERS re-occupied a £1m Jericho home just hours after being raided by police and have pledged to carry on living there.

Police raided the three-floor squat in Walton Street last Thursday but when the squatters were released without charge they simply walked back and climbed in through an open window.

Officers believe the squatters preyed on the landlord, who also lives in Walton Street, by pretending to be interested in buying the house then refusing to leave.

The eight squatters, who refused to give their full names, invited The Oxford Times into the house, claiming they were good neighbours.

The house was up for sale at £1m but it has now had to be taken off the market, the estate agent 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 are just here because we are 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."

They were arrested by police after officers 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 keep 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 lawn.

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 a million pound house and leave it with us, do you? It's not the true story."

was served and claimed to have changed the heating and electricity bills to their names.

Matt B added: "We are probably seen by people as scum but we have nowhere to live. People mention a squat and think of a dirty place with drugs but it is not.

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

The housemates said they did all the washing up and chores and kept it clean.

The house was up for sale for £1m last month by agents Carter Jonas. The estate agent refused to comment apart from confirming it was off the market.

Neighbourhood Insp Richard Brown said police were now working on a possession order and offering the landlord, whom they described as vulnerable, advice and counselling.

Jericho councillor Susanna Pressel said: "It is inexcusable for squatters to move in like this. I hope there are not causing any damage and leave quietly as soon as a possession order is obtained."

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