DEFIANT campaigners have “saved” two more properties from auction so they can be used to house Lewisham families.

In a bid to stop the flats in Hazeldon Road, Croftfon Park, being sold off at auction tomorrow, activists from Lewisham People Before Profit (LPBP) entered the addresses yesterday evening and have been squatting in them since.

They say the first floor and ground floor properties, which are owned by London and Quadrant housing association, should be used to accommodate families on the borough’s housing list.

Protestors intend to occupy the flats until they are able to carry out any necessary repairs and secure gas and electricity connections so that people can move in.

Leading the occupation is LPBP campaigner John Hamilton who entered the flats through open windows.

He told News Shopper: “These flats are not in bad condition and someone should be able to move into them quite soon. We have changed the locks and have already had some interest from people who are would like to move in.

“They understand they could be evicted at any time. Ideally we would like to work with L&Q so that we can move people in from their waiting list.”

He added: “We have saved them from being auctioned because we think the housing association should be using them to house people, not make money.”

An L&Q spokesman said:“We are looking to auction this particular property because it does not meet acceptable housing standards and will be extremely costly to improve. Proceeds and savings made from the sale would be spent on improving other homes in Lewisham.

"We’ve temporarily removed the property from auction because of this incident and are currently examining our next steps.”

Last month LPBP entered five properties across the borough that Lewisham Council had intended to sell at auction.

They have since moved a family of five into the house in Angus Street, New Cross.

The other properties in Lampmead Road in Lee, Friendly Street, Etta Street and Albyn Street, all in Deptford, are still being occupied by squatters.