A LAW reform group linked to 40 MPs is backing a complaint by travellers against a controversial firm of bailiffs.

The Traveller Law Reform Project has endorsed the complaint by travellers fighting eviction from Dale Farm, Crays Hill, against Constant & Co, which carried out site evictions for Basildon Council.

The support came as the complaint was submitted to Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

Richard Solly, policy development officer for the organisation, has also written to Constant & Co saying it must abide by health and safety regulations, after reports of use of excessive force.

Richard Sheridan, spokesman for Dale Farm, is to attend a conference in Luxemburg on the protection of minority groups, with a dossier of complaints against the firm.

He said: "For us, this is ethnic-cleansing."