The Reverend David Shawcross has vowed to act as a lookout for the tunnelling campaigners, who have dug in along the route of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road at Weeford, in Staffordshire.

The vicar keeps in touch with the underground campaigners via CB radio and mobile phone.

He says that when the 50 bailiffs on the site move in to evict protestors, he will try to ensure that no-one gets injured.

Mr Shawcross, who is a former caver, says some of the holes inside the tunnels are as small as 18 inches square.

But he added everyone was determined to stay down there.

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 relief road.

Veteran campaigner Muppet Dave 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, will also build a viewing platform for the media and a fence.

Contractors await instruction

"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.