SQUATTERS have moved into a former prison and immigration centre.

Up to six people are thought to have broken into Bullwood Hall, in Hockley, to set up home there.

The site, in Bullwood Hall Lane, is earmarked for demolition to make way for a housing development.

The squatters are believed to have taken over a dormitory on the sprawling prison site.

A group who set up camp in the former BHS store, in Southend town centre, after it closed in August are believed to be among those now living in Bullwood Hall.

One of the squatters, a 32-year-old man, also pitched up a tent on the cliffs - before Southend Council launched legal action to move him on.

A relative, who did not want to be named, said the latest occupation served to highlight the borough’s homelessness problem.

He said: “One of them is my brother-in-law. They’ve been given three to four days to leave. Basically they are doing it to raise awareness about homelessness in Southend.

“They’ve taken over Bullwood Hall because this problem needs to be addressed. They refuse him help all the time because of his mental health issues. They’ve given him no help with housing.”

He added: “My brother-in-law had to set up camp on the cliffs and the police threatened to fine him if he didn’t move. Something has got to be done.”

The prison site, which has been empty for more than three years, is set to have 60 new homes built on it.

Redrow Homes is behind the development through its sister company, Harrow Estates.

Mike Riding, managing director of the company, insisted the squatter will not hold up the development.

He said: “Harrow are taking the necessary legal steps for the squatters to be lawfully removed from the site.

Mark Flewitt, Southend councillor responsible for housing, said the authority is committed to supporting homeless people.

He said: “As we have talked to homeless people we have discovered many of them haven’t actually been to the council to ask us for help. It is no good them taking their angst out on the council if they don’t actually ask for help.

“I would encourage the homeless to come forward to Rochford District Council or Southend Council about their homeless status. We can’t condone anyone squatting on private property.

“The development will commence with the implementation of highway junction improvements in late December 2016 or early January 2017.”

A spokeswoman for Rochford District Council added: “Because Bullwood Hall is under private ownership, we are unable to take direct action but we will be liaising with police.”