Lidl served a group of travellers an eviction notice after they reportedly broke down the security doors at the boarded-up site of the old Porcupine pub in Mottingham.

A convoy of vehicles made their way into the front car park around 9.45pm on Monday (August 22).

Emma Richmond, who was driving home through the village, told News Shopper that she saw the group of travellers "occupy" the pub.

She said: "Traffic was at a standstill at the roundabout next to the pub for a few minutes while numerous caravans and white transit vans started to fill the front car park.

"They locked themselves in behind the blue wooden panels that have been in place since the closure of the pub.

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"And this just after I heard from a friend that the Toby chain was interested in the pub at long last.

"Residents need to stay vigilant and the authorities need to act fast."

Ms Richmond said she saw around four caravans and many white transit vans.

The Porcupine pub in Mottingham Road closed in 2013.

A bid by budget supermarket chain Lidl to knock down the pub and build a store on the site was rejected the following year.

Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill tweeted a picture of a letter he sent to Lidl's managing director Ronny Gottschlich on Tuesday, August 23.

It read: "As owners of the site as I am sure you will wish to resolve this as a matter of urgency, not only because of the strength and concern of local residents but also travellers in situ will no doubt impede your efforts to market the site."

Ted Rowlands from the Porcupine Development Committee told News Shopper: "The Porcupine is registered as an Asset of Community Value, and Lidl have decided to sell the site, thus triggering a moratorium until December on the sale.

"There are a number of interested parties looking at the site, and the community is looking at bidding so the Porcupine can be restored to be a community pub."

A spokeswoman for Lidl said on Tuesday: "We were incredibly concerned to hear about the issues at our site in Mottingham.

"We were made aware of trespassers on the site late last night and immediately instructed bailiffs to serve a notice of eviction.

"We are working closely with local authority teams to ensure the land is returned in a reasonable manner and would like to reassure local residents we will be taking steps to secure the site once the trespassers have been moved on."

Today (Wednesday, August 24) Lidl confirmed that the travellers had been moved on and that the supermarket chain was taking steps to secure the site.

Bromley Council was contacted for comment.