A PAIR of squatters have moved in with their ponies and two rottweilers to become the sole residents of a 'ghost estate' - and claim they are offering security.

Victoria Morrall, 39, and her partner David Antram, 61, moved out of their caravan seven months ago to take up residence at a development of ten homes that have been left abandoned for nearly a decade.

A row has now broken out in the village of St Erth, with locals saying they have made it an intimidating place to go and calling for the couple to be evicted.

And pictures of the dilapidated estate show Victoria and David have even made one of the other homes a “makeshift stable” for their ponies - with manure covering the downstairs of a property.

Local authorities say they are working with the landowner on removing the couple, who claim they were “conned” into renting it by someone who wrongly told them they had the right to do so.

Victoria said they live off-grid in the downstairs of one of the homes and described the estate as like an “apocalyptic” scene. She claims they have faced a barrage of abuse and had the police called out on several occasions, including an incident when the couple were arrested and later released without charge over firearms and trespass allegations.

But she claims their ongoing presence is by “informal agreement with the landowner”, and they have prevented further damage being caused just by being there.

She said: "We are the security at the moment - stopping teens from demolishing more. There have been loads of local teens coming in and vandalising the site. Local builders have even come in and stolen bits - hence why the gates were locked in the first place.

"Police have been out numerous times. It's been going on since it was left derelict. We've been here seven months - and since then it has all stopped."

An original planning application was submitted in 2013 for ten homes along with an access road and parking. It was initially refused by Cornwall Council and ruled 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. The estate has been fenced off and pictures show it has become overgrown and unkempt - with locals branding it a "blot on the village".

St Erth Parish Council says the couple are there without permission and steps are being taken to ensure their removal. But Victoria said they had an informal arrangement to stay until they found somewhere else to go.

She added: "We were homeless and living in a caravan - we were initially told we were renting this place, but it turned out the guy we were renting off didn't own the land. We got in contact with the landowner who said we can stay. We are the only two people living there.

"It is odd. At first it was weird. With no running water, no electric, we have to rely on a generator and get rainwater. It has been a struggle, but you just cope.”

The couple pay no bills and no rent and say they are given money to act as security. "We are not security in an official capacity,” Victoria continued. “We don't really do much. We just keep an eye out. We've got CCTV and our dogs go out on patrol. Apart from that, we phone the police when the teens come and try and vandalise it. There is not much else we can do.”

The couple say they live in one of the abandoned houses downstairs. They claim someone had already come in and taken all the copper, pipework and ripped out the electrics.

Victoria added: "It is completely deserted - it is a bit like an apocalypse scene and has been for just under ten years.

"We want to go home back to the farm. Hopefully we can do that in a couple more months."

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they had been called to reports of a woman with a suspected firearm on the derelict site at Chenhalls Road at around 3.55pm on Saturday, January 24.

It was further reported that a man had been making threats. Units were deployed to the scene, including firearms officers. Two air weapons and a machete were seized.

A man in his 60s and a woman in her 30s, both from the Hayle area, were arrested on suspicion of trespass on land with a firearm. They were subsequently released with no further police action being taken.

St Erth Parish Council said in a statement: "The parish council, in conjunction with Cornwall Council and the landowner, would like to clarify and address a number of rumours currently circulating in relation to the site at Chenhalls Road.

"The couple living on the site originally entered the property late last year without the permission of the landowner.

"The landowner is actively taking steps to secure their departure. Once the site is vacated, all properties will be boarded up, the perimeter secured, CCTV installed and a security company appointed to carry out regular inspections.

"There was a recent incident on the site that required police attendance. The parish council would like to thank the local Hayle police team and their colleagues in the armed response unit for their swift response.

"Cornwall Council is engaging with the landowner’s agent and is committed to working to find a suitable solution for St Erth. All parties recognise that the unfinished development as it stands has been a blight on the village for too long."

The landowner Barton Bridging Ltd has been contacted for comment.