TRAVELLERS at Dale Farm have so far been given £188,000 worth of legal aid.

The shocking figure was revealed by the Legal Service Commission ahead of today's court clash between the travellers and Basildon Council, which it is not funding.

Since 2005 the travellesr on the illegal site at Oak Lane, Crays Hill have been given the cash to fund a string of legal action relating to the illegal development and eviction from the site.

Basildon and Billericay Tory MP John Baron said: "“Too much taxpayers’ money has already been spent on travellers who have illegally developed this site.

*Full special report in Friday's Echo