Squatting is an emotive and highly complex issue. For squatters, it is about defying convention and bureaucracy and taking control themselves.

For homeowners it is a battle to hang on to the property they have worked hard to buy.

But the laws that are meant to balance the rights of each party are clouded and police, Citizens Advice Bureau, and the Squatters Advisory service appear to work to totally different rules and guidelines when dealing with the issue.

One case this week has brought the issue to the front of people's minds.

This week a homeowner in Amersham went away for a few weeks to visit relatives. While she was away squatters moved into her home.

Squatters, Dave, 38, and Kelly, 22, managed to gain entry into the house in West Acres, on Thursday, January 4.

They then claimed squatters rights, saying the house belonged to them, changed the locks and moved their belongings in from their caravan parked outside.

But on Saturday afternoon, West Acres residents realised that no-one was inside the house and gained entry themselves. They then claimed the same rights as the squatters.

A concerned resident said: "We want to do the best for the woman who lives here. This could happen to any of us."

The house belongs to Elizabeth Jimenez, who went to Bolivia to see her ill parents, her first trip abroad for 12 years. Her sons then went out to join her and the house was left in the care of a family friend.

She regularly checked on the house to ensure everything was in order.

On Friday she found a caravan outside the house and that squatters had moved in.

That night police were called to a confrontation outside the house between the squatters and angry residents who gained entry and took many of Mrs Jimenez's belongings, to ensure their safety.

Police and residents could not intervene because the law gives squatters the right to move into an unoccupied house and remain there, providing someone remains inside the building and that the squatters have not got in by violent or forced entry.

But on Saturday, when the squatters were out, the residents seized their chance and took full possession of the home.

A resident said: "It was good to see the neighbourhood getting together. This could have happened to any one of us."

The squatters believe their rights were infringed when residents gained entry on Friday night and are planning to seek legal advice on the matter.

Dave said: "We really are disheartened by the police response."

He claimed it had taken an hour for police to arrive after they had been phoned by the squatters.

He said: "It was a farce."

The squatters added that they had got into the house after believing it had been abandoned. Kelly, Dave's girlfriend, said she was pregnant and that they only wanted to find a place to live in for a couple of months while she had her baby.

They would then leave the country.

She added: "We want to do up the caravan and go out to Spain."

The residents drew up a rota for at least one of them to remain in the house until Mrs Jimenez returned. She is due back today.

Police spokesman Kate Spark said: "Police officers have attended to prevent a breach of the peace. The trespassers have recovered their property and left."