THE BBC has been rapped for an “unfair” report on the Dale Farm eviction.

The One Show ran a report on the former illegal site on February 14, ahead of the eviction which took place last month (October).

Basildon Council complained this was "inaccurate, misleading and biased in favour of the travellers".

An investigation by the BBC Trust's editorial standards committee found the five-minute report was "duly accurate" and "had not knowingly and materially misled its audiences".

But it said the programme had "failed to clarify the site had been developed on green belt land".

It also concluded the programme had been "unfair" to the council in allowing a traveller to allege the local authority was "throwing us out on the road" with "nowhere to go" without giving it a right of reply.

The committee found a studio discussion between presenters Matt Baker and Alex Jones and actor Neil Morrissey, who was a guest on the show, created an "overall impression" that was “unfair” to the council. A BBC spokeswoman said: "We note the findings, which we have taken very seriously.

“Moving forward, The One Show has reviewed and will continue to strengthen its editorial procedures to ensure accuracy, fairness and due impartiality on all the programme's output."

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball said: "We are satisfied with the findings."