New Dale Farm fight for council

The council which cleared Britain's largest illegal travellers' settlement was today bracing itself for a fresh eviction battle after caravans moved onto a neighbouring site.

Only weeks after Basildon council cleared travellers from the illegal site of Dale Farm, it revealed today that of the 34 caravan pitches on the legal party of the camp, half are in breach of planning permission.

They are now set to be served with eviction notices. However, the authority has had to start the legal process from scratch.