Two men have been charged with squatting at a manor house under renovation in Herefordshire.

They were arrested yesterday during a police operation at the site of Bodenham Manor to deal with people who had allegedly occupied the property since Saturday afternoon.

Guy Taylor, aged 51 and of Carey near Hereford, and David Edwards, aged 46 and of Howkins Road, Rugby, were both charged with knowingly, as a trespasser, live or intend to live in a residential building, an offence under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

They were both released on bail to appear at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on September 10 with conditions that include not to enter Bodenham or contact the current owner of Bodenham Manor directly or indirectly via a third party.