Dale Farm: Man admits traveller racism charge

A man has admitted making racist insults to travellers facing eviction from Dale Farm in Essex.

Anthony Balfour, 68, of Graham Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, was arrested when police at the site near Basildon heard abuse toward residents.

He admitted a racially aggravated public order offence and was given a 12-month conditional discharge by Southend magistrates.

The clearance of illegal plots at Dale Farm is set to begin from Monday.

It follows a decade-long row with Basildon Council over unauthorised properties on the former scrap yard.

Although half of the site is legal, more than 80 properties have no planning permission and about 400 people are said to be living there illegally.