BARCLAYS is evicting anti-austerity protesters who hoped to turn an empty former bank into a community centre.

Bailiffs are at present ejecting the campaigners from the empty former bank branch on Preston Road in Brighton.

Passersby reported seven bailiffs in orange jackets removing people from the building, which had been taken over and turned into ‘Radical Bank’ a food bank and community space.

It came after lawyers acting for the banking giant took the campaigners to court on Tuesday after they invaded the boarded up Preston Circus building and began squatting there.

Barclays Bank PLC was granted a possession order at Brighton County Court on Tuesday and is understood to be serving papers to the group within days.

Although it closed its branch at 1 Preston Road in January, as the leaseholder for the building it is still responsible for its upkeep according to a bank spokesman.

The campaigners led a small protest ahead of the hearing, but initially arrived at the wrong court by accident.

On learning the decision, at around 11.30am, the campaigners immediately led a peaceful, sit-in protest outside the Barclays branch in North Street, Brighton. Attendees claimed the branch temporarily closed its doors on learning of the protest.

A Radical Bank spokeswoman said the group is continuing to squat in the Preston Road building until official eviction papers are served.