Squatters have said they have no immediate plans to leave a high street store.

The protesters took over the property in Western Road, Brighton on June 30 in solidarity with striking public sector workers and said they will remain as long as their protest has “momentum”.

The g roup claim that between 50 and 100 people a day are visiting the former Tie Rack and mobile phone shop on the corner between Churchill Square and Ann Summers, which has been empty since August last year.

The shop’s occupiers are running a “free shop and café” giving away clothes, tea and cake.

The site is also being used to host talks from protest g roups Climate Camp, Stop the Cuts and pro-Palestine g roups as well as for film screenings and musical shows.

One of the protesters, Jon Dutton, 21, said the project had been going “outstandingly well” and that they had received a lot of support from the public.

He added: “Our original plan was to open on June 30 and be open for a week but we have been gaining a lot of momentum so we will stay here until as long as we have momentum.

“We have discussed the possibility of other sites but at the moment we are in the most perfect location.

“What we want to achieve is being achieved, giving people the chance to talk as individuals and not be talked at by union officials or politicians.”

The protesters said they had also been carrying out minor repairs to the building including replacing missing floorboards to protect it from falling into a disused state.

The store is currently being offered to let, at £80,000 a year, by estate agents Stiles Harrold Williams who describe the five storey building as a prime corner retail unit with A3 consent.

The firm’s website lists the property as under offer, but no one was available to comment on the squatters yesterday.

Squatting could be made a crime under Government proposals announced this week.

Justice Minister Crispin Blunt has announced plans for a consultation on whether squatting should be made a criminal offence with persistent offenders facing prison and so-called squatters rights abolished.

Hove MP Mike Weatherley has led a long campaign for the law change.