Evictions begin at Dale Farm

Following a court judgement on Monday, Basildon Council has started clearing the site hours before the expected 8am commencement.

Several caravans had been crammed on to the few plots which the bailiffs cannot touch, a spokesman for the residents said. More were still camped on the illegal plots and alongside them were several dozen activists who have been on the site for seven weeks.

Dozens of bailiffs arrived at a council compound neighbouring the site for final preparations and two diggers and a crane were on standby.

Photo gallery: Dale Farm traveller protest

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball said: “The time for talking is over. We have given the travellers’ every chance to leave peacefully and they have not taken it.

“Now our job is to clear the site in a safe and humane manner.

“It is quite clear to me that the majority of the public want us to do that.

“My biggest fear is that somebody – be it a bailiff, a police officer, a traveller or a supporter – gets hurt.

“I would call on those inside Dale Farm to behave sensibly and responsibly.”

The clearance of 54 unauthorised plots, home to about 80 families, follows a decade-long row over the development of the green belt site.

Last week the travellers lost a high court bid to stop the eviction and on Monday they were refused the chance to appeal against that ruling.