A MAN has been arrested for throwing racist insults at travellers facing eviction from the UK's largest illegal settlement.

Anthony Balfour, 68, of Graham Park Road, Newcastle, was arrested yesterday after police officers at Dale Farm, near Basildon, Essex, heard abuse being used towards residents.

He has been charged with a racially agravated public order offence and will appeared before Basildon magistrates at a later date after the case was adjourned this morning.

The clearance of Dale Farm, led by Basildon Council, is expected to begin on Monday. It follows a decade-long row over unauthorised properties on the former scrapyard.

Although half of the site is legal, more than 80 properties have no planning permission and about 400 people are said to be living there illegally.

Travellers and their supporters have promised to resist eviction without violence but police have begun preparations for major disorder.