Penniless former rock star locks himself in attic of Staffordshire home in protest over repossession

Mervyn Spence, aged 55, took the drastic step after he was unable to meet the £1,400-a-month repayments with building society Nationwide.

The former bass player with Wishbone Ash - who had a string of hits in the 1970s - said the company had refused to cut the 5.5 per cent interest rate he has been stuck with since 2008.

The father-of-two even sold two of his prized guitars in 2010 to keep up with his repayments for the property in Lichfield before he fell further behind in 2013.

Nationwide then took him to court in January last year and a judge ruled they had the right to sell the two-bedroom detached house where he lives on his own.

The building society ordered the property to be cleared and front door locked last week.

But Mr Spence is refusing to budge and has been holed up in the attic of the house's barn conversion, which he uses as a recording studio, since Thursday.

Friends are helping the former rock star stay with food while he keeps himself entertained by writing songs on his guitar.

The singer-songwriter, who is a former member of 1970s acts Trapeze and Wishbone Ash, said: "I had to sell some guitars in 2010, I had a Fender Precision which I'd had since the 1970s and sold for about £1,200 to £1,500."

"I'm going to stay here as long as it takes.

"I don't care how much I stink, I'm prepared to be a rebel with a kind heart," he added.

Nationwide said it had tried to come to a workable solution with Mr Spence since his account first fell into arrears in 2010.

A spokesman claimed his rate was 'completely fair and reasonable', adding: "We have gone above and beyond what would be expected of a reasonable lender and have made numerous attempts to accommodate Mr Spence and to find a solution which works for him and for the society.

"We have shown significant forbearance over a long period of time and have tried to do our best for Mr Spence."