The clearance of Dale Farm continues today as Basildon Council refutes allegations by supporters that bailiffs are acting illegally.

Supporters claimed bailiffs were breaking the law, removing fences and walls on Saturday before the expiry of 48-hour notices that have been served. They also accused the council of imposing a "media blackout" by preventing the press from getting into the site until Monday.

But Basildon Council denied the allegations, saying the clearance operation at Dale Farm was continuing as normal, and officials had been on the site serving extra notices, helping travellers who wanted to leave, and taking up hardstanding that did not have walls or fences in the way.

The council has served 48-hour notices detailing how it will remove homes from the site. They inform residents what will be removed, including demolishing fences and walls to allow access, although these will be reinstated.

Resident Mary Sheridan said: "We always knew the bailiffs would breach their court orders, they always do. But I can't believe Basildon council could be so obviously trying to cover up their demolition of our homes from the world."

But a Basildon Council spokeswoman refuted the claims, saying officials had been on site on Saturday serving more notices, identifying travellers who wanted to leave, checking on the welfare of those who remained, and removing some of the hardstanding where there were no fences or walls to be taken down.

She also denied claims over a "media blackout", saying the media compound was still in place - but members of the press had been limited from some areas of the site as it is now a formal construction site, so they could not give "unfettered access" to the media.