We’re squatters in ‘apocalyptic’ ghost estate – neighbours call us ‘travellers & druggies’… but we’ll never leave

SQUATTERS living on an abandoned ghost estate have been branded “travellers and druggies” by locals but vow to never leave. Victoria Morrall, 39, and David Antram, 61, are living on the “apocalyptic” estate in St Erth, Cornwall. The couple say the locals think they are ‘druggies and travellers’ Credit: SWNS A planning application was first submitted in 2013 to build ten homes on the land Credit: SWNS But their presence has sparked a row among locals who say they have made it an intimidating place to go and called for them to be evicted. Victoria has been accused of leaving her animals unattended on the estate but has hit back despite her dog being seized by police. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! She said the anger of locals is unjustified, accusing them of being out to get her. Victoria said: “They think we’re gypsies or druggies… and just squatters.” Victoria and her partner converted one of the homes into a barn for their horses Credit: SWNS Victoria says she was conned into moving onto the estate Credit: SWNS She lives on the estate with partner David and their two Rottweilers as well as their ponies. Previously homeless, the couple moved in after leaving their caravan – saying they were conned into renting the place and told it was a “paid security job.” Locals claimed this week that they hadn’t seen anyone at the estate for days with one dog and three ponies left to wander by the couple. One local told Cornwall Live: “The squatters have left and abandoned their three horses and a rottweiler.” Most read in The Sun The allegedly abandoned animals have been reported to the police and the RSPCA. It led to both agencies attending and seizing a dog on Saturday with a vet due to arrive and transport the horses in the coming days. Victoria claims that she was at a funeral however and furiously explained: “The people of St Erth just don’t like us because they think we’re gypsies or druggies and all that lot. “As far as St Erth is concerned, we’re just squatters.” She said her and David were in the process of moving off the estate and hadn’t been able to send for their horses yet. According to Victoria she visits the ghost estate daily and leaves her dog there for “security.” She said: “The RSPCA have done this by mistake and I am trying to get my dog back, that dog is like my baby. “The other one is just a puppy and was with me as it wouldn’t do well left but the other we left for security.” Victoria and her partner have been travelling to and from the estate, sometimes twice a day, from their home in Truro, she claims. Locals insist that the couple leave their animals there unattended for long periods of time however. One neighbour described the abandoned development as a “blot” on the area and said there are safety concerns over the squatters living there. They fumed: “It is really ugly and a real blot on the village. We don’t feel safe having them there at all. “They have two rottweilers who give a very intimidating feeling. We don’t feel welcome going there at all. “We just want it gone. It either needs to be returned to a field or have nicer houses built there.” Victoria claims they have faced a barrage of abuse while living on the estate and had the police called out on a number of occasions. This included an incident when the couple were both arrested and later released without charge over a firearms and trespass allegations. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they were called to reports of a woman with a suspected firearm on the derelict site on January 24. It was further reported that a man had been making threats. The force said units were deployed, including firearms officers, and two air weapons and a machete were seized. An RSPCA spokesperson said: “An officer attended a property in St Erth on Saturday (August 1) following concerns for a number of animals there. “Police seized a dog and placed him into our care. We can’t comment any further at this time as enquiries are ongoing.” A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police attended Chenhalls Road, St Erth, on the afternoon of Saturday 1 August following a report of a dog and ponies left behind at an unfinished building site. “An officer assisted with removing a dog which was then passed over to the RSPCA.” A planning application was first submitted in 2013 for ten homes along with an access road and parking – but it was refused by Cornwall Council. The local authority ruled it to be “an isolated development in the countryside to the detriment of the rural character of the area”. However, the applicant – William Trevorrow, of St Ives – appealed and the housing estate was allowed by the Planning Inspectorate in March 2015. Building started soon afterwards, but the ten houses have never been lived in. The empty estate has been owned by Barton Bridging Ltd since 2019 when the previous owner went into receivership. It has been fenced off and pictures show it has become overgrown and unkempt – with locals branding it a “blot on the village.” Victoria said they live off-grid in the downstairs of one of the homes, describing the estate as like an “apocalyptic” scene. Comment now