BAILIFFS and security staff moved in to clear a group of environmental activists from the farm which they have occupied for the last two years.

Yorkley Court Farm – which the activists call Yorkley Community Farm Land Trust – has been at the centre of a dispute for some time.

The activists say that bailiffs and two private security firms moved in at about 5am on Monday morning.

The stand-off went into a second day with the police moving in "to prevent a breach of the peace."

Messages went out on social media calling for supporters to come and "defend" the farm.

The activists claim it was an attempt at a "common law" eviction which had no court order to back it up.

The bailiffs prevented entry to the farm which at one point left a car stranded outside partially blocking Yorkley Lane.

Although later moved the road was then blocked by a bus.

One of the activists told the Review: "The bailiffs arrived at about 5am and have tried to make an illegal attempt to evict the people here.

"It is a common law eviction, they had nothing from a court.

Enforcement action to stop the use of the farm has been considered by the Forest Council but the trust has been given time to submit a planning application to "regularise" the situation.

The activist said: "We have been going through the proper legal channels with planning and there is a hearing with the land registry about the ownership of the land.

"We say the land is not registered to anyone but now we have had this attempt to remove us."

One of those manning the barricade, who wished only to be known as Hannah, told the Review: "The situation with the security guards and the police got much worse yesterday (Monday) evening when more police arrived with guns and tear gas. The reason for that, they said, was that they had seen somebody from the farm walking across the yard with an axe.

"But we use axes all the time, we cook on wood and use it to heat the farmhouse - they (the police) totally over-reacted. It frightened us a lot, but it also makes us even more determined that we will be staying here."

Among those at the farm gate was Forest of Dean district councillor Andrew Gardiner (Ind, Ruardean) whose grandson helped set up the community at Yorkley Court.

He said: "What has happened today is an absolute scandal – what the young people are doing here is to be commended.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: "Police were called to an incident yesterday (Monday) where it was reported that there was a male with an axe at Yorkley Court Farm in the Forest of Dean but on investigation no offences were disclosed.

"Suitably trained officers were deployed including those who carry firearms. The police do not carry teargas.

"Police are discussing with the landowner any further support that might be needed and in the meantime are maintaining a low level presence in case their support is required to prevent a breach of the peace. The dispute involves a civil matter between the landowner and those on the site.

The Review did try to contact the bailiffs, Swift Credit Services of Merthyr Tydfil.