Travellers and Romany people from across Europe have protested against the planned evictions Officials organising the eviction of families from a huge illegal travellers site in Essex have issued a final plea for them to leave voluntarily.
The travellers failed in a High Court bid to stop the eviction on Wednesday.
Basildon Council leader Tony Ball said: "I am making a final appeal to the residents to leave Dale Farm peacefully."
The travellers vowed to fight any eviction plans and supporters have gathered at the site.
'Huge waste'
The eviction notice follows a decade-long row over unauthorised pitches on the site, which is owned by the travellers.
Traveller families began to set up pitches illegally on greenbelt land at Dale Farm in 2001 An estimated 400 people on 80 different pitches say they face losing their homes. Among them are young children and older people with health problems.
A spokesman for Basildon Council said: "As the terms of the notice have not been complied with, the council along with its contractors now plans to take direct action to clear the site.
"This will involve the removal of caravans and mobile homes ahead of digging up hard standings, roads and outbuildings."
On Wednesday, traveller and mother-of-two Mary O'Brien, who has lived on the site for 10 years, said: "If they come in with bulldozers we will put up a fight.
