STAND-OFF

A judge has ordered the 30 caravans to quit the county council-owned land near Southampton by Friday.

But the travellers have issued a defiant message to the authorities, saying: "You will have to drag us off."

About 30 caravans have been parked on the Monks Brook playing field off Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, for six weeks.

The delay in moving them on has upset members of the British Transport Club, who claim their adjoining sports field and clubhouse have suffered thousands of pounds of damage.

When the Daily Echo broke the news of their impending eviction, there were complaints from the travellers about the short notice given and vows that they would not go without a fight.

"We feel very bad about having to move off. This has been a good site," said John Ward.

"A lot of the lads have made their mind up. Unless we are given a site a lot of people will be very reluctant to go. We don't want to be giving any aggravation but we won't leave without a fight."

Mr Ward stressed he did not mean a physical confrontation but added: "They will have to evict us and tow the caravans out. We can't keep going on like this. It's very hard and it's very distressing. It is constant aggravation."

He admitted the Monks Brook site was in a "bit of a mess" but claimed that 90 per cent of the rubbish had been tipped by other people.

He added: "We have tried in several places for sites but it hasn't worked out for us. If it was possible we would rent a field somewhere and pay for skips and we can guarantee it would be kept clean."

Mr Ward said some families had even bought sites but had failed to get planning permission to put caravans on them, while others had been on housing waiting lists for years.

"We don't want the life - it is a thing of the past. If I was given a house tomorrow I would take it and I think 80 per cent of those who are here would."

Another traveller, Thomas Clearey, said if they were evicted from Monks Brook they might consider camping in a nearby field.

Mother of six Julie Price, 30, said: "If there were more sites for travellers to go to there wouldn't be this problem.

"The children need education but they can't get that when we have to keep moving."

She added: "I don't think anyone will go before Friday and I think they will have a bit of a fight to get them off.

"We haven't really got anywhere to go - there is nowhere whatsoever."

At yesterday's Southampton County Court hearing, none of the travellers turned up and only one couple was represented with a solicitor's letter.

Travellers Michael and Anne Manghan asked for leave to stay because Mrs Manghan was due to visit hospital for an arthritis operation.

Deputy District Judge Arnold said the letter was "somewhat vague" and added: "Either they are all trespassers or none of them are. The plain fact is no one came along to tell me about their problems.

"In the absence of anybody to take a different view and the absence of any evidence it seems to me the court has no option but to make the order."

He resisted attempts by the county's legal team to make it immediate, giving the travellers until the end of the week to move out.

A spokesman for the county council said: "We are pleased we have got the order and we will be putting it into force to ensure the ground is cleared.

"Now we will look at working to ensure it doesn't get invaded again and make sure we don't get a repeat of the episode."

BTC Bowling Club president Donald Snellgrove said he was delighted the order had been made but called for the county council to step up security measures to stop travellers returning to the site. He said: "I would have thought it would have been in the interest of the council to stop them because it is going to cost between £10,000 and £15,000 to clear that site."