Protesters to defy eviction order

Environmental protesters have said they will continue to occupy an opencast mining site despite an eviction notice.

UK Coal has obtained a notice to remove them from the property at Shipley in Derbyshire. Production will start at the site in the autumn.

The protesters have barricaded themselves into an old farm house on the site and constructed a tree house.

The government granted planning permission for the project, which will create 40 jobs, last year.

Two protesters have told BBC News that they will not leave until bailiffs arrive to remove them.

'Nuisance' value

UK Coal's Stewart Oliver said the protesters have not caused that much disruption so far but urged them to move on peacefully.

"Their presence has been more of a nuisance value than a disruption of any mining activity," he said.

The Leave it in the Ground group occupied the Prospect Farm site, near Ripley, on 17 June.

They claimed coal from opencast mines was more polluting than other types and should not be used in power stations.

UK Coal said the coal reserves of one million tonnes could provide energy for up to 400,000 homes.