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19 September 2011
Last updated at 12:51 ET
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Dale Farm resident Kathleen McCarthy said she would fight on "to the bitter end"
Travellers at the UK's largest illegal travellers' site, at Dale Farm, Essex, have won a court injunction delaying their planned eviction.
Residents won the injunction restraining Basildon Council from clearing the site pending a further High Court hearing on Friday.
Earlier bailiffs urged campaigners to stop obstructing the eviction process.
Council leader Tony Ball said he was disappointed, but confident the courts would ultimately back the authority.
As many as 400 people have been living on 51 unauthorised caravan plots.
Cheers inside Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart granted the injunction at London's High Court on the basis that there was a realistic apprehension that the measures to be taken - while genuinely believed in by the council - "may go further" than the terms of the enforcement notices.
He said: "Having regard to the fact there is no fixed date for starting these - but they are imminent - I do not see that any serious injustice will be caused if the actual implementation of any measures will not take place before the end of this week."
There were cheers inside the Dale Farm site as residents and supporters were told the news.
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Basildon Council leader Tony Ball says he is "disappointed and frustrated"
Resident Mary Slattery said: "We are delighted. Every day is a bonus. We've got one last chance and we're not going to give up - this gives us so much hope."
There was a party-like atmosphere as music began to play and travellers taunted bailiffs from the barricades, singing: "We're not going to go."
When they heard about the injunction, supporters who had chained themselves to the barriers began to unlock themselves.
'Extremely disappointed' Supporter Jake Fulton said: "This is really great news but this isn't over yet.
"It makes us feel we have a really good shot at defending travellers in a way that has never happened before."
Speaking outside the site, Mr Ball, said: "Clearly I and the council are extremely disappointed and frustrated by the decision of the High Court today.
"The motion was put forward to the High Court without notice which meant that the judge only had one side of the story and therefore has given the council until Friday to go back to the High Court to make its argument.
"I'm absolutely clear that on this issue on Friday that the courts will find in the council's favour and that the site clearance will be able to continue but until then, as always, this council will comply with the law and we will comply with the judgement that's been put before us.
"But I'm absolutely confident that once we put our side of the story, our case, that the law again will be seen to be upheld and this council will enforce that law."
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Dale Farm resident Kathleen McCarthy said she would fight on "to the bitter end"
Travellers at the UK's largest illegal travellers' site, at Dale Farm, Essex, have won a court injunction delaying their planned eviction.
Residents won the injunction restraining Basildon Council from clearing the site pending a further High Court hearing on Friday.
Earlier bailiffs urged campaigners to stop obstructing the eviction process.
Council leader Tony Ball said he was disappointed, but confident the courts would ultimately back the authority.
As many as 400 people have been living on 51 unauthorised caravan plots.
Cheers inside Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart granted the injunction at London's High Court on the basis that there was a realistic apprehension that the measures to be taken - while genuinely believed in by the council - "may go further" than the terms of the enforcement notices.
He said: "Having regard to the fact there is no fixed date for starting these - but they are imminent - I do not see that any serious injustice will be caused if the actual implementation of any measures will not take place before the end of this week."
There were cheers inside the Dale Farm site as residents and supporters were told the news.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Basildon Council leader Tony Ball says he is "disappointed and frustrated"
Resident Mary Slattery said: "We are delighted. Every day is a bonus. We've got one last chance and we're not going to give up - this gives us so much hope."
There was a party-like atmosphere as music began to play and travellers taunted bailiffs from the barricades, singing: "We're not going to go."
When they heard about the injunction, supporters who had chained themselves to the barriers began to unlock themselves.
'Extremely disappointed' Supporter Jake Fulton said: "This is really great news but this isn't over yet.
"It makes us feel we have a really good shot at defending travellers in a way that has never happened before."
Speaking outside the site, Mr Ball, said: "Clearly I and the council are extremely disappointed and frustrated by the decision of the High Court today.
"The motion was put forward to the High Court without notice which meant that the judge only had one side of the story and therefore has given the council until Friday to go back to the High Court to make its argument.
"I'm absolutely clear that on this issue on Friday that the courts will find in the council's favour and that the site clearance will be able to continue but until then, as always, this council will comply with the law and we will comply with the judgement that's been put before us.
"But I'm absolutely confident that once we put our side of the story, our case, that the law again will be seen to be upheld and this council will enforce that law."
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