THE FULL £17.5million needed to evict travellers from Dale Farm in Crays Hill is now available.

The Home Office is now giving enough cash to plug a funding gap for the police costs of £9.5m, with the aid of Basildon Council.

The council will now have to hold a full council meeting to agree to pay around £1.2million of the police costs on top of its own £8million expenses, before 28-day eviction notices are served.

Full story in Wednesday's Echo.