7.09am: Residents of Dale Farm, the UK's largest Travellers' site, are preparing to resist an expected attempt to evict them today after they were refused permission on Monday to appeal against a high court ruling allowing Basildon council to clear the site.
Supporters have also been arriving at the site in Essex, where three people were said to be preparing to chain themselves to the gate by their necks, and two cars and a former Russian military vehicle have been moved into place as obstacles.
According to Tony Ball, the leader of Basildon council, "all preparations have been completed". Although he refused to confirm that the eviction would begin at first light today, he said the clearance was imminent and that no further negotiations would take place.
Dozens of bailiffs arrived at a council compound neighbouring the site for final preparations and two diggers and a crane were on standby.
Mr 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."
Supporters have reinforced the barricade inside the main gate and smaller barricades are in place throughout the site. Piles of wood and bricks have been gathered at various key points.
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