Basildon Council has finally agreed what is set to be the biggest traveller site eviction ever carried out in Europe.

Councillors last night voted to carry out the task of evicting hundreds of travellers illegally camped at the Dale Farm site off Oak Lane, Crays Hill.

A tense meeting of the development control committee in the Towngate Theatre heard pleas against the action from travellers and campaigners. The committee then rejected a series of planning applications for the site and agreed to the eviction, which could cost £1.5million.

The verdict met with a chorus of boos and "shame on you" from the public gallery.

As they left the building, angry travellers chanted: "Burn in hell."

They also shouted "you are throwing children onto the streets" and "see you in the European courts".

Around 200 residents and travellers packed out the theatre's Mirren Studio for the resumed meeting, which was adjourned on June 8 when actor Corin Redgrave suffered a heart attack during a speech against the eviction.

Residents urged the committee to reject the applications and travellers spoke out against an eviction before councillors agreed by a vote of six to one to reject the five applications.

Lib Dem leader Geoff Williams made a last-minute move to allow the travellers to remain at a "managed unauthorised site" until alternatives could be found. However, the committee agreed to evict the travellers by a five to two majority.

Mr Williams voted against and Labour councillor Richard Llewellyn abstained. Those fighting for the eviction said planning laws had to be upheld to protect the green belt.

Travellers said the site was a former scrapyard and never green fields when they moved on. They said their health and education needs are more important than green belt and there was no where else to go.

Mr Williams said Government guidance told councils to "tolerate" unauthorised encampments and work with partner organisations to develop a managed co-existence between travellers and the settled community. He added: "Eviction is a costly and pointless exercise."

After the hearing, travellers said they were not surprised and called the decision a "done deal". Crays Hill residents welcomed the news but said it would not be over until the eviction took place.