A group of 26 squatters have been removed after forcing their way into a former Virgin Active Health Club.
Witnesses claimed the group were using the building’s spa facilities including the sauna, steam room and showers.
It is also alleged they held an all-night rave at the building in Wimbledon, south West London.
Local Conservative Councillor Charlotte Chirico, second left, posted a photograph showing how the squatters bent gate bars to force their way into the health club
Cllr Chirico said locals were concerned by the squatters in the former Virgin Active Gym
Police applied for an anti-social behaviour order on the former gym to force out the squatters
The mob forced their way into the property by levering bars on a gate.
Several of the group taunted outraged locals that they were enjoying all the club’s facilities for free.
The Virgin Active club closed down in December despite the strong opposition of locals who signed a petition asking the company to reverse their decision.
Before its closure, the club had around 4,000 members who have been told they can still use nearby clubs.
The leisure centre was first opened almost 20 years ago.
Since the invasion, police have deployed a CCTV van outside the premises to keep it under constant surveillance.
MailOnline has contacted Virgin Active and Merton Council for a comment.
Police have placed a mobile CCTV van outside the gym to prevent the squatters returning
Locals noticed the squatters inside the site after seeing the building’s lights on at night. The picture appears to show graffiti on the walls
A police mobile CCTV unit is parked outside the site of the former gym, where squatters have been sighted
A spokeswoman for the local council said: ‘Merton Council are urgently working with the police to evict squatters who have broken into the former Virgin Active on Battle Close in South Wimbledon and have been causing a disturbance in the area.
‘A Court Order is scheduled to be obtained through the Magistrates Court within the next 24 hours and the police have already been on site.
‘Security measures had been in place, including 24 hour CCTV, but those involved were still able to force themselves in.
‘Once the squatters have gone, the council will tighten up security to prevent further break ins, while the future of the site is still being considered.
‘The former gym has been shut and secured since December when Virgin Active decided to close the gym and give up their lease. The keys were then handed back to the council who own the freehold.
‘Battle Close was rejected as a potential site for the new Harris Wimbledon school by the Department of Education, as the site is too small for a school, and other future uses, including housing, are under consideration.’
Local councillor Charlie Chirico said: ‘I was out speaking to residents last night with my Trinity ward colleagues, Councillor Abdul Latif and Conservative Candidate Hayley Ormrod, who are in the photograph.
‘Concerns were raised about a rave with plus 100 attendees, which is said to have occurred over the weekend. Following that, we were informed that squatters had moved in around this time. It has caused much anxiety amongst residents, who raised concerns about public safety and security, particularly those who have young children and elderly parents nearby.
‘We have been in close contact with our local police and understand that a closure notice has been served, although we are yet to see any movement from the people inside.
‘Public safety is our number one priority at this time. We also took the opportunity to speak directly with the squatters who informed us they were a group of 26, between the ages of 18-27 years old.
‘One man told us he was from North London and moved in after the snow last week. As you can see from the photo, the squatters appeared to have entered through the gap in the bars and allegedly made their way to the sauna and steam facilities, which I am told exist within the site. Indeed, we nearly considered giving it a go ourselves although we did not fancy climbing in through the bars!’