TRAVELLERS are recruiting an army of organised protesters to stave off eviction.

Campaigners for the massive Dale Farm site at Oak Lane, Crays Hill, are appealing for far-left activists to take part in “direct action” and “civil disobedience” if bailiffs try to evict them.

A meeting at Dale Farm saw a unanimous vote in favour of defending the camp, thwarting Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley’s hopes travellers will leave via negotiation to avoid eviction.

Direct action and civil disobedience can include sit-ins, obstruction and chaining oneself to objects.

Meetings are being held in London by activists to drum up numbers.

London Housing Action Now – an anti-homlessness and poverty and pro-squatting group – is expected to be involved.

Stage and screen star Vanessa Redgrave and Father John Glynn of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, London Road, Wickford, have previously vowed to take part in a human shield.

Grattan Puxon, lead campaigner, said he could not divulge tactics, but direct action would be a form of passive protest to disrupt the eviction, including possibly forming a human shield.

He said: “This was an idea first thought of by Vanessa, who we would still hope to take part. The direct action protesters would be different to human rights monitors we are also recruiting who simply watch the eviction.

“We will be asking police if these groups can be given special armbands to distinguish them and allowed access to the site.

At previous evictions road blocks have been put in place to stop other people getting to a site.”

Mr Puxon said barbedwire, scaffolding and fencing was being used to fortify Dale Farm.

A civil disobedience training workshop was held at Dale Farm, where people were encouraged to lay down in front of bulldozers and other tactics, after the council first voted to evict the travellers in 2005 .

Mr Buckley said he still hoped negotiation with site residents could lead to a peaceful solution.

There were violent scenes, including a bailiff being kneecapped, at an eviction in 2004 at Little Waltham, near Chelmsford, when activists joined forces with travellers.