16:35: The decision on the Dale Farm judicial review is not due until Tuesday at the earliest.

16:30: It looks as though the Dale Farm hearing will continue Friday afternoon and Monday afternoon.

16:15: Reports say there are between 100 and 150 children on the site and children could be found on 70 per cent of plots.

105 Dale Farm children are in full-time education.

15:55: Council lawyer says this is not a council that has closed its eyes to the needs of children.

15:45: Council lawyer quizzed by judge over council's obligation under housing act to do assessment on traveller pitches.

15:30: Basildon Council lawyer addressing points raised about children's education.

15:10: High Court is told cost of eviction delays is £400,000 not including police costs.

14:50: Basildon Council lawyer responds to Marc Willers, counsel for Mary Sheridan.

14:30: A truce may be called in a separate legal battle between travellers living at Dale Farm and Basildon Council, lawyers said today.

A travellers' spokesman said residents were hoping that the council would agree to leave four plots, containing the homes of five traveller families, and not to destroy fencing.

14:10: Before the break, Marc Willers, counsel for Mary Sheridan, said the council had not carried out a gypsy and traveller need assessment for the area.

"It is all very well for Basildon to say 'we don't have a need, it's a demand'," said Mr Willers. "If they had devised a strategy having assessed need then all or some of the people on Dale Farm might have been found to have a need and a strategy would have been formed to meet their needs."

14:00: Court getting ready to start again after lunch break.

13:55: Basildon Council leader Tony Ball responds to criticism from Ed Miliband. He said: “This operation is about upholding the law and has nothing to do with ‘grandstanding’."

12:50: Reports say a baby boy was born at Basildon Hospital an hour ago to one of the residents at Dale Farm.

12:25: The first challenge was brought by Irish traveller Mary Sheridan.

Her counsel, Marc Willers, said the case had an "extensive history" but Ms Sheridan was not claiming she should be allowed to stay at Dale Farm "forever - or indeed for many years, or even a year".

Mr Willers said: "This claim is brought on this basis: there is no alternative, suitable accommodation at this point in time, and it would be disproportionate to be forced to leave in the absence of such accommodation."

12:15: The judge heard the other claims for judicial review would raise several other legal issues under human rights legislation and planning law.

The hearing is now expected to take at least two days.

11:55: The Judge is now discussing individual plots at Dale Farm.

11:45: Judge hears about rights to an education for children at Dale Farm.

11:40: The Echo has learned if the traveller's lose, their costs have been capped at a total of £25,000 for all three claimants - even if the bill is higher.

11:35: Lawyers are going through the chronology of Basildon Council's decisions in the eviction process.

11:30: Before the court hearing today, Mary Sheridan, a resident at Dale Farm, said: “I pray to God the Judge lets us stay here on our land. This is our home and we’ve nowhere to go. If we can’t live in a former scrapyard then where can we live?

"Our children won’t get educated if they make us homeless. We’ve got a fighting chance here and that’s the best chance Travellers have ever had."

11:20: Traveller Mary Sheridan has applied for legal aid to cover her court bill. The Legal Service Commission said it is yet to make a decision.

11:15: Traveller Mary Sheridan's lawyer says Dale Farm residents have no alternative accommodation.

11:10: Judge has said the case is listed for one day but he may reserve judgement.

11:05:Lawyers for the travellers are asking Mr Justice Ouseley, sitting at London's High Court, to rule that it would be unlawful "at this point in time" for the council to pursue its eviction policy. In 2007, Mr Justice Ouseley rejected a judicial review from travellers at the illegal Hovefields site in Wickford. They were later evicted.

11:00: The High Court has agreed that journalists can tweet live from the courtroom. You can follow the Echo on Twitter @Essex_Echo.