EVICTING travellers from Dale Farm cost Basildon Council £4.2million, it has been revealed.

A council source said a further £1.8million was being set aside for further legal challenges and enforcement action on the neighbouring legal site where most of the families moved.

Essex Police has yet to finalise its costs for the operation.

Meanwhile a traveller activist who scored a partial victory in the High Court and delayed the eviction for a month has asked for £168,000 from the council towards his £504,000 legal bill.

Campaigner Stuart Hardwicke-Carruthers has instead been offered £250 by the council and the case may have to go back to court.

Full story in today's Echo.