An ongoing campaign to tackle squatters in Redbridge took to the airwaves this morning.

Campaign organisers Susan Dixon, of Coventry Road, Ilford, and Cllr Aziz Choudhury, of Valentines ward, spoke to broadcaster Vanessa Feltz on her BBC London radio show.

They went on the air to highlight the problem of squatters which has led to a petition with 1,968 signatures being presented to Redbridge Council.

A gang of squatters moved into a home next door to Ms Dixon last November.

She has told Redbridge council of at least 20 streets in the borough containing properties which she says have been occupied by squatters at some point.

The petition, which calls on the council to lobby for criminalisation of squatting and to take further measures locally, is to be debated at the council meeting next Thursday (January 19).

The council currently rejects the call to set up a working party on the subject in the agenda meeting paper’s.

They state: “The council is only aware of a small number of squatted properties in the borough and this would not warrant a borough-wide working group.”

The show is avaiable at this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7dd.