AN anti-austerity action group has taken up residence in an abandoned building facing King George’s Hall in Blackburn – thanks to a legal loophole.

The Love Activists are encouraging people who are homeless and can’t afford beds in hostels to stay at its ‘shelter’ in Blakey Moor.

The group, which currently has three members in the former takeaway premises, was behind the occupation of the old Bank of England building in Liverpool earlier this year.

The occupation, which lasted for several weeks, ended in May after police launched an early-morning raid.

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Group member Brad Henderson said that they were ‘taking advantage’ of a requirement in the temporary accommodation laws which forces councils to contact the building’s owner in order to obtain an eviction notice.

He said: “We understand that the owner of the building is not easily contactable.

“I doubt that the council will be able to contact them for a while.

“Until then we have set up in the building and will be offering help and support to anyone who really needs it.

“With the cuts that have been announced recently and rule changes that will see some benefits being denied to people under the age of 21, we are going to see more and more homeless young people in the coming years.

“All we want to do is to help.

“We have rules in place to make sure that everybody behaves, as well.

“We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour.

“People will be asked to leave if they break the rules.

“We have close links with Shelter, the homeless charity, and everybody is hoping that we are able to stay here for as long as possible.

“Nobody who stays in the building will be causing any harm and we are willing to work with the police and the council as far as possible.”

Sayyed Osman, director for localities, housing and prevention at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “The council is working with all parties to find the most appropriate way to resolve this issue.”

In 2014 the group occupied a former RBS office in London to provide free Christmas lunches to the homeless.

>> Danny Freeman, the founder of Love Activists, has asked the Lancashire Telegraph to point out that while the organisation fully supports the action that the individuals took in Blackburn, the official organisation known as 'Love Activists' had zero involvement in this action.