GIPSIES must leave a site in Eckington by April 8, the High Court in London ordered on Tuesday.

The court rejected the gipsies' application for a variation of the High Court Order granted to the Council on June 30 last year.

Mr Justice Tugendhat relied on the planning inspector's decision in November after an inquiry held in October rejected an appeal against the Council's enforcement notices.

The judge said the planning merits of the case had been fully considered and there was no basis for granting a further extension of time.

The gipsies, who own the land, have a further appeal against the rejection of their planning application, to be heard on September 6 and 7 this year.

However, they have no right to remain on the site pending the determination of that further appeal.

Wychavon's Managing Director Jack Hegarty said: "We are very pleased by this outcome. This case involved a flagrant breach of planning control in May 2004.

"An independent planning inspector ruled in November 2004 that the unauthorised use should not continue beyond April 8, 2005 - both for planning and highway safety reasons.

"There were no grounds whatsoever for allowing the gipsies to have a second bite of the cherry and stay on site pending determination of their further appeal."

Chairman of the Gipsy Council, Charles Smith said: "Where are they supposed to go? Local authorities all over the country should treat gipsies equally. If there is a need for more sites, they should be provided. It's no good saying 'we've got so many' and wash their hands of the problem."

Wychavon District Council took action quickly last year when dozens of gipsies with caravans moved onto the land without planning permission. In one weekend contractors arrived and laid hardcore and put up fences on the field along the B4080 Eckington to Bredon Road.

A GIPSY family who were unofficially living on a plot of land at Lenchwick's Hipton Hill site have finally moved on, after being allowed to spend Christmas there.

Elizabeth Smith, aged 50, moved onto the official Vale site with her daughters Kelly, aged 24, Sabrina aged 21, and four-month old grandson John-Jay nine weeks ago after a friend gave the plot up.

Wychavon County Council planning officers accused them of jumping the waiting list, and said they would have to leave the site after New Year.

The Smith family, who are now living on a roadside in Leicestershire, moved off the site on Tuesday morning.