Travellers hit with new court order to stop dig

Work on the sloping field was described as "a breach of planning control" by the local authority

Landowners have been served a second High Court injunction to stop them excavating land above a row of houses.

People living below Nantyglo Rugby Club in Blaenau Gwent said a traveller group began excavating the site in April.

They feared that the work being done could cause the land to slip onto their homes.

As a result the local authority secured a temporary stop notice in May preventing any further work from being done without planning permission having first been secured.

On Friday, Blaenau Gwent council issued details of the new injunction regarding development of the sloping field on the neighbouring Porters Road.

It orders the cessation of all work "without the prior grant of planning permission" and stipulates that the landowners must "cease to occupy" or reside at the plot by 18:00 BST on Sunday 23 June.

In addition, the order states that "all touring caravans, trailers and all other residential paraphernalia" have to be removed by 17:00 BST on Monday 24 June.

All machinery and temporary toilet facilities must also be taken away.

A spokesperson for the council added that "this injunction remains in place until discharged or varied by the court".

Earlier this year the council stated that independent experts had assessed the stability of the land, concluding there was no immediate risk to the properties below or the road above.

The owner of the site previously said it would be used for grazing horses, but did not deny the possibility of housing being built there in the future.