A SQUATTER refusing to leave a £1 million house in Barnes unless the late owner's dying wish for her cats to live there was honoured has lost his battle.

The house in Elm Bank Gardens belonged to Lady Follett, a great animal lover, until she died in 1996.

Following her death, friend George Rapkins looked after the cats, Coco, Smoky, Tupenny and Sleepy, at the property until he died in January.

And last week Ian Simpson, 43, who was caring for Mr Rapkins, declined to budge until Cats Protection, who inherited the house, accepted that it was agreed that the pets stay on.

But after a meeting on Wednesday, it was decided that the animals would have to leave and the charity will sell off the property.

Mr Simpson said: "I have spoken to Cats Protection and they are going to come and take the cats and find them alternative homes. They are not going to stay where they have lived for 15 years.

"It is not going to be an animal sanctuary as we wanted. Cats Protection say it would be too much expense to leave the cats here.

"I have not got the facilities to look after the cats, but people have been supporting me and showing an interest, saying they would look after them.

"My intention was never to stop here, but I am carrying out George's wishes. This is just a mission. They wanted the house to be turned into a cat sanctuary; they wanted the cats to stop here.

"I'm not disputing that the cats people own this place but I still wanted to push for the cats to stay."

"Lady Follett loved all types of wildlife; she took cats in all her life. George Rapkins was a bank of information. He stopped the fishing in Barnes Pond and was involved in the Wetland Centre."

Cats Protection maintain that it was Lady Follett's wish that George Rapkins live at the property for the rest of his life.

They claim that her wishes with regard to George Rapkins' place of residence were not related to him caring for her cats at the property for the remainder of their lives.

A spokesperson said: "George Rapkins died in January 2004 at the age of 90. Shortly before his death, Mr Ian Simpson moved into the property without the permission, knowledge or licence of Cats Protection.

"He has asked for a payment of an undisclosed sum of money to leave the property, but the charity has refused to accede to such demands.

"Lady Follett expressed no wishes in her will with regard to Mr Simpson or the care of her cats by him until their death."

The charity applied for planning permission to develop a cat shelter when Lady Follett died but this was refused by Richmond upon Thames Council for several reasons.

A judge at a hearing at Wandsworth County Court was satisfied that the trustees of Cats Protection were legally entitled to the property and granted an order for possession.

The charity say that they will take all resident cats, including Lady Follett's last surviving cat, Coco, into its care and will ensure loving homes are found for them all as soon as possible.