Plans to evict the last of a group of gypsies from land they own in Bedfordshire have been put on hold pending a further High Court appeal.

It is the latest court action in a five-year battle between the families living at Woodside Caravan Park near Hatch and Mid-Bedfordshire District Council.

The council wants to move the gypsies on the grounds that, although they own the land, they do not have planning permission to live on it all year round.

It sent bailiffs to the site last Monday - but had to abandon attempts to evict the gypsies because of another outstanding court action.

The High Court ruled in the council's favour last Wednesday, but the gypsies are now to challenge that decision.

The land was bought by 27 families in 1997, and the gypsies say they then set up a "pioneer community".

Most of the families left the site after the council gained an injunction in June.