BOSSES at Hampshire County Council are hoping for a quick judicial review from the High Court as they continue their bid to evict travellers camped at Peak Copse near Dummer.

The travellers, who are fighting against a court decision that they must leave the site, have won some extra time after the High Court in London granted their request for a review of the council's application for vacant possession - despite the court vindicating the council's decision to permanently close the site.

A council spokeswoman said: "Following last Friday's High Court decision to grant leave for a judicial review on the county council's application for vacant possession of the Peak Copse site, Hampshire County Council is currently taking advice from counsel on the way forward and will be pursuing site eviction subject to the constraints placed on the council at the hearing. The county council will be seeking a hearing at the earliest opportunity."

Travellers moved onto the site - which is owned by the county council - last November, following a decision by the authority to permanently close it.

The site had been temporarily closed since 1996 after violent disturbances there.

Only days after the decision to permanently close Peak Copse, a heavy earth-moving machine was used to shift six-tonne blocks that had been placed across the entrance to prevent access. About 20 families occupied the site.

In December, police officers from Basingstoke carried out a major raid on the site, made several arrests and removed a haul of suspected stolen items.

Some caravans have already left the land since Christmas, but a hardcore of travellers remain and have vowed to stay put.

They say they want to live there permanently and have sent their children to local schools.

The county council wants to use the site to recycle waste products and to provide access to nearby woodland for recreational use.