Rettendon eco-warriors were today (Wednesday) appealing at the High Court for a stay of execution over eviction plans.

The group, which set up camp on the Gorse Wood site in May in protest over the new A130 bypass plans, have applied to the London court for leave to appeal against a writ of possession.

Contractors CountryRoute and Laing Ltd applied for the writ in November after protesters ignored an eviction notice giving them nine days to quit the site.

The group's solicitor, who asked not to be named, said: "We're trying to get a stay of execution to stop them enacting the possession order.

"There's a few appeal writs to go. We haven't got much of a chance, but it's an opportunity to delay things.

"We're attempting to get a date for an appeal set down. There are always plenty of arguments on an appeal, enough to keep them talking for a day or so."

Protesters had stayed at the site over the festive period, and food had been taken to them on Christmas Day, he added.

He said: "Not everyone celebrates Christmas anyway, but even so, it's a time when, regardless of whether you celebrate or not, you're out in the bitter cold and thinking of friends and family."

Protesters would also stay on the site over new year, although there were no definite plans for a celebration, he added.

The group believes the bypass, which will connect the A12 at Chelmsford with the A127, is too long and needlessly destroys countryside.

They want to see a much smaller scheme, with the new road bypassing only the most congested areas, including Rettendon and Howe Green.

No date has been set for a post mortem on the five-week-old baby who died on the site in November.

Tests were carried out on baby Sam, whose mother, Jo, is now not staying on the site.

But results are not expected for at least a month.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.