'Human rights for Dale Farm' banners hang at Dale Farm site

Two protesters chained themselves to a barrel behind the gate at Dale Farm today to signal the start of peaceful resistance to the eviction of travellers from the illegal section of the site.

Dean, 29, and Emma, 18, handcuffed themselves to a pole concreted inside the barrel as a human barricade.

Lying on mattresses, the pair said they were prepared to stay as “long as it takes”.

Dean said: “I have studied what’s going on here long and hard and believe when the law is used for wrong, civil disobedience is the only way to oppose it.

“The idea is the bailiffs cannot open this gate without killing us both. We’ll sleep here for weeks if we have to.”

The clearance of 51 unauthorised plots, home to up to 400 people, on the six-acre site in Essex is due to start this morning following a decade-long planning row.

An estimated 200 supporters and residents remain on site.

Paintings of children and a banner calling for "Human rights for Dale Farm" had been attached to the outside of the main barricade.

There was also a sign warning about the protesters chained to a barrel, which stated: “Danger of death. Behind this gate a woman is attached by her neck. If you attempt to open this gate you will kill her.”

The travellers also built a small wall at the end of a road connecting the bailiffs’ compound with the site.

Women on Dale Farm threw what could be their final party last night while others watched television, making the most of electricity before it was cut off.

Many of the women drank until midnight, listening to music including Rihanna and singing traditional songs.

One said: “If this is our last night in our homes, we’re going to enjoy it.”

Others said they were sitting the party out as they planned to carry on as normal today – including sending their children to school, beyond the barricades.

Earlier resident Kathleen McCarthy said that come morning the site would be on lockdown. She said they would not go until physically forced to.

She added: “We won’t go, we simply will not go. We will chain ourselves to whatever we can to stop the bailiffs.

“We’ve all experienced bailiffs before and are terrified of what they’ll do. But sometimes you’ve got to stand up for yourselves.”