Housing campaigners faced off with security guards at Catford town hall during a protest yesterday (December 5).

Lewisham Housing Action Group turned up at the council's Lawrence House building, carrying banners and calling for a meeting with cabinet member Councillor Damien Egan or mayor Sir Steve Bullock.

The protest aimed to highlight the number of people living in insecure, temporary and emergency accommodation in the borough.

But, on trying to enter the building, they were held back by security - who were branded heavy-handed and "state police" by some of the protestors who chanted: "Housing is a human right, not a privilege."

John Hamilton from People Before Profit said: "The priority should be building council houses for rent rather than creating an expensive ghetto for docklands workers renting from foreign landlords."

The town hall was the scene of a mini-riot in 2010 as a meeting on cuts descended into chaos with protestors letting off flares and police on horses holding back angry crowds.