Families facing eviction from an illegal caravan park in Bedfordshire say they are hoping for a last-minute reprieve.

Residents of Woodside Caravan Park in Hatch have been served with a final eviction notice which expires on 1 November.

Although the travellers own the land, Mid Bedfordshire District Council - and the High Court - say they do not have planning permission for a permanent site.

They now have until 1 November to make their move, or be forcibly removed.

The eviction notice is served

The travellers' leader Cliff Kardona said the council was destroying their community.

"Mid Bed Council is not just determined to take our homes from us, they also want to smash up our social life as well.

"There's nowhere else in the country that could possible cope with the number of us. We're a village...they want to take that from us."

Council leader Brian Collier has said every provision would be taken to make sure the travellers would have somewhere to go but they could not be guaranteed accommodation.

The council said local housing associations may be able to help re-house some of the families.

But the travellers, who lost their High Court battle to stay on the land in June, argue it is not houses they want - it is land - and they will continue to hope for a last-minute reprieve.