Academy protesters defy eviction

The council said the area needs Wembley Park City Academy to be built

People opposed to plans to build a city academy on a sports ground have refused to leave despite an eviction order.

Brent Council obtained the order to have the group of campaigners removed from Wembley Park Sports Ground by 1800 BST on Tuesday.

But the protesters, who have occupied the north-west London site since March 2007, have refused to do so.

The council said bailiffs would now be sent to the site on Wednesday to remove the demonstrators.

The injunction bans Hank Roberts, one of the leaders of the campaign, from the site for two years.

It is staggering what lengths the opposition has gone to in its attempt to stop the building of this urgently needed school, Brent Council's John Christie

After the 1800 BST deadline passed he said: "They've not got me to leave and no-one else has left.

"I will not be leaving - they've got to drag me off this roof."

Protesters object to the sale of the land for the development of the privately-run Wembley Park City Academy

They want it to be built on an alternative site in the south of the borough and for the sports ground to remain intact.

Brent Council said the Wembley Park City Academy is needed to meet demand for secondary school places in the area.

John Christie, Brent Council's Director of Children and Families said: "The council was left with no choice but to apply for the court injunction and order for possession to evict the squatters.

"Work is due to start on the temporary school building next week and the latest illegal occupation could have seriously jeopardised us providing school places for children who are starting in September.

"It is staggering what lengths the opposition has gone to in its attempt to stop the building of this urgently needed school, particularly when young people's education is at stake."