BBC's David Gregory: "This is the start of the eviction process"

About 20 protestors have ignored an eviction order which expired a month ago and built a network of tunnels under the path of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road at Weeford in Staffordshire.

One veteran campaigner said they had created the most sophisticated tunnels yet seen at a protest, all linked by an advanced communications system.

An old friendship rekindled

A statement issued by the solicitor for Under-Sheriff of Staffordshire John James suggested there would be no immediate confrontation.

"This interim period will be used for the construction of a compound and facilities for the team carrying out this work and it is not envisaged that any protestors will be evicted at this stage," it said.

The contractors, who moved in on Tuesday morning, will also build a viewing platform for the media and a fence.

There will be no immediate evictions

"When they [the contractors] moved in this morning, everyone was underground...and all the tunnels were locked up," one protestor said.

"When I confirmed that they weren't coming on to our site I gave them the all-clear and everyone came out into the compound."

In fact, the atmosphere was surprisingly congenial, with bailiffs and campaigners who have faced each other at other anti-road protests chatting and laughing together.