Redgrave: Eviction of travellers from site is illegal

Actress Vanessa Redgrave has condemned the forcible removal of 90 families from Britain's biggest traveller settlement as "illegal" and against their human rights.

The political activist, 74, was due to visit the Dale Farm campsite, in Essex, today to meet people being evicted from the settlement in the next 24 hours.

Redgrave, a Unicef goodwill ambassador, said: "I am certain that the eviction of the Dale Farm traveller families is illegal under international, mandatory, human rights conventions. I am appalled that such an eviction can be upheld by our Government."

But Basildon council insisted the visit "changed nothing". A spokeswoman said: "The deadline is still tomorrow at midnight." The travellers have been fighting removal from the unauthorised green belt site for the past six years. A camp was set up at the site over the weekend made up of 150 international supporters to protest against the eviction.