A once-thriving London pub, owned by renowned chef Gordon Ramsay and listed for £13m on the market, has been taken over by squatters.

It has been reported that at least six squatters have claimed ownership of the historic Grade II-listed York & Albany gastropub - a stone's throw away from Regent's Park - barricading the windows and asserting their rights with a "legal warning", according to The PA press agency.

Photographs clicking prior to the addition of more boards showed one squatter settled comfortably asleep on a bar sofa amongst a scatter of rubbish.

On Saturday morn, two masked squatters clad in black tracksuits made a swift exit from the property, clutching backpacks and carrier bags, promptly evading keen reporters eager for a chat.

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On the door, a notice had been firmly attached proclaiming the group's entitlement to take up residency in the venue, insisting it was not a "residential building" and, as such, the 2012 established law concerning squatting in residential spaces didn't apply.

An attached document signed by "The Occupiers", boldly stated: "Take notice that we occupy this property and at all times there is at least one person in occupation."

Adding fuel to the fire, they continued: "That any entry or attempt to enter into these premises without our permission is therefore a criminal offence as anyone of us who is in physical possession is opposed to such entry without our permission."

Their final word of caution slicing through any presumptions left: "That if you attempt to enter by violence or by threatening violence we will prosecute you."

"You may receive a sentence of up to six months' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000."

"That if you want to get us out you will have to issue a claim for possession in the County Court or in the High Court."

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Mr Ramsay's attempts to have the squatters removed by calling the police on Wednesday proved fruitless, according to sources.

In another notice, the passerby is asked for "food and clothes donations or anything else you no longer want or need".

In the UK, the act of occupying another persons non-residential property without their permission is not considered criminal, however, any subsequent crimes including property damage or theft can lead to police intervention.

The Metropolitan Police released a statement saying: "Police were made aware of squatters at a disused property in Parkway, Regent's Park, NW1 on Wednesday, 10 April."

They further added, "This is a civil matter and so police did not attend the property."

In 2007, film director Gary Love purchased the freehold of the former nineteenth-century coaching inn.

Following this, Mr Ramsay was leased the property under a 25-year term agreement, with a staggering annual rent of £640,000.

However, the Kitchen Nightmares host lost a legal battle in an attempt to free himself from the lease at the High Court in 2015.

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As of the end of last year, the place was back on the market, boasting a guide price of a whopping £13 million.

Government guidelines state that squatters can apply to become the registered owners of a property if they have lived there continuously for 10 years, acted as owners throughout that period, and had not been granted permission to live there by the owner.