HUNDREDS of travellers could be warned of the date of their planned eviction from Crays Hill, prompting fears of a violent standoff.

Until now all six eviction operations at the illegal Hovefields site, Wickford, have been unannounced and there has been minimal resistance from protesters.

However, a number of the agencies involved in planning the clearance of the Dale Farm have suggested the 96 families should be notified in advance of the day they will be booted off.

Legally Basildon Council has to give travellers a 28-day notice period before an eviction, but not the exact date it will happen.

However, a source close to the planning of the eviction said: “The police want the date to be announced in advance. There are concerns with so many children at the site, if it happens out of the blue, they could be at school and then come home to find their homes have gone.”

However, the source said there were also fears if the date is announced hundreds of activists, including anarchist groups will be able to prepare resistance at the site.

Tony Ball, Tory Basildon Council leader, confirmed announcing the date was an option for the operation, which could cost up to £13million.

He said: “On the one hand it is difficult to organise an operation on this scale, involving heavy machinery and road closures, without people noticing.

“On the other, if the date is announced, it does allow the opportunity for protesters to group at the site.”

He said a decision on which course to take was yet to be made.

There have been a number of cases of evictions around the country when the date was given in advance and they had to be called off due to violence.

There were violent scenes at a Chelmsford Council-led clearance of the Meadowlands illegal site near Little Waltham in 2004 after the date was publicised.

An spokesman for Essex Police said it was working with the council, but it was down to the council to make a decision.

Grattan Puxon, a campaigner for the travellers, has previously asked the council to announce the date in advance and is seeking people to take part in peaceful protests, including a human shield, should the eviction go ahead.