House near Shilpa`s London home occupied by squatters

London: An abandoned house in the neighbourhood where actress Shilpa Shetty has a home has been taken over by squatters, who can now be evicted only after a lengthy legal process.

The private estate in Weybridge, Surrey, is home to a host of celebrities, including Shetty and former Chelsea star Claude Makelele. The residents have been asked to be `vigilant` following the arrival of their new neighbours, according to a report in the Daily Mail. Six squatters moved into the abandoned six-bedroom Woodlawn Cottage on the exclusive estate last month, and claim they are not acting illegally. The cottage is worth 3 million pounds. One unnamed resident said: "It does seem pretty extraordinary that the police can`t do anything to get these people off the estate. They have no right to be here, yet the law appears to be on their side - it`s completely wrong". Properties on the estate can sell for 10 million pounds. Former residents include Sir Elton John, Ringo Starr, Cliff Richard and Kate Winslet. The estate`s management company has now contacted receivers handling the squatters` home asking that they `take immediate action to evict them`, the report said. A security guard is now employed to keep the property under surveillance and police have set up extra patrols of the area. But the squatters are unrepentant, claiming they plan to stay `as long as possible`. PTI