The new tenant of a country park café has been left “frustrated” and “devastated” by squatters who are preventing him reopening the building.

Squatters occupied the recently built café in Scratchwood last week, claiming they were there to renovate the derelict café and open it up to the public.

However Umer Ahmed, who has just been granted tenancy of the café by landlord Exact Homes and leaseholders Barnet Borough Council, said the squatters were actually preventing the café from being opened.

Mr Ahmed said he had just been told by his solicitor he had been given the go-ahead and went down earlier today to measure up the café ready for fitting out.

He added: “I had no idea there were squatters there. I was frustrated and devestated to find them.

“I’d arranged for Movenpik and Delice de France to come down. I’d bought everything for the kitchen. We wanted to open in two weeks time to catch the summer season.”

Mr Ahmed, who has had five years experience in running a café in Birmingham, plans to sell sandwiches, cake, ice cream, tea and coffee and soft drinks.

He said: “We want to open for public use, to provide something for people who come to the area. We’re planning to have a playground for children outside the cafe and open the gates, so more people will be able to come in."

He added the pesence of the café would prevent "dodgy behaviour" and make Scratchwood a nice place.

He said: "Now I don’t know what’s going to happen, I’m very worried.”

Councillor Hugh Rayner, who accompanied Mr Ahmed when he visited Scratchwood, said he was keen for the café to open as soon as possible.

He said: “Mr Ahmed has plans to turn this café into a community asset.

“I spoke to the squatters who said they were homeless and had nowhere else to go. But they were reluctant to take up our offer of having social workers and housing people come down to discuss accommodation.

“They seemed quite comfortable where they were regardless of any inconvenience to residents and visitors missing out on the café facilities.”