Courts need to give police powers to evict squatters more quickly, according to a tenant eviction group.

Landlord Action has expressed its anger at reports squatters are seizing people's homes when they are out and changing the locks, leaving authorities powerless to evict them without a court order.

Founder Paul Shamplina said: "It is a sad situation when police are powerless to take immediate action against these types of squatters.

"We have always argued that the court system is extremely slow and protracted when it comes to evicting tenants. The process can take up to three months and this year alone we have seen a 15 per cent increase in instructions.

"We are campaigning on behalf of landlords to make the legal process quicker so landlords can get hearing dates without lengthy delays.

"However, with the government proposing to close some county courts, we feel the situation will get worse and it will make the process of obtaining possession much longer."

Landlord Action has evicted more than 17,000 tenants since its inception in 1999.