Squatters who say they have turned an empty building into a community centre have defied an attempt to evict them.

Bailiffs turned up to Home Farm, in Stanmer Park, Brighton, but it is understood they could not evict the group without police assistance.

People living close to the site were dismayed the squatters were still in residence last night.

Sarah Beck, 50, pays a livery fee to Brighton and Hove City Council to keep her two rescue horses in a stable next to the farm.

She said: "I can't bring the horses in to sleep at night because the squatters light fires in the garden and I am worried they will set fire to the stables.

"They're playing bongo drums day and night. The council are no help whatsoever."

Home Farm is owned by the council and has been empty for some time, as have two other properties in the village.

The squatters took over the building two weeks ago and said they are highlighting the number of empty council houses in the city when there is a high demand for housing.

The building was secured with metal shutters by Brighton and Hove City Council but the squatters, who have electricians, plumbers, gardeners and artists among the group, removed them to get in.

They say they have mended broken windows and opened up the house to the community.

Most of the people involved in the project are not living in the property but visit daily to help clean up.

Rob Cornell, a member of the group, said: "I know they have revenue issues but they shouldn't leave the property empty for eight months. We would like to see this property in the hands of the local community and we have had positive feedback from local people."

He said he believed there might have been a barbecue in the garden but did not think any fires had been lit.

But a council spokesman said there were "concrete and advanced plans" for Home Farm and the other empty houses to be refurbished and let on the open market when the squatters broke in.

He said: "This was an irresponsible act, now resulting in a considerable waste of public money to organise and police an eviction.

"The council had already applied for planning permission and listed building consent to turn the farmhouse back into two cottages, providing much-needed homes."

The spokesman said work on the village properties should start in July and the council expected to spend £200,000 refurbishing them.

A police spokesman said there appeared to have been a "hiccup" in the eviction plans and that bailiffs might have called the police too late for them to be able to help.

Meanwhile, artists and sculptors are working in the building and have set up an open house gallery. Mr Cornell said the number of people occupying Home Farm ranged from four to twenty.

Dave Boyd, 74, who has lived in Stanmer village for 34 years, said: "Let the council deal with it. We don't want them there."