It's Eviction Day at Parliament Square this afternoon and it has nothing to do with Big Brother - although the soon-to-be homeless occupants believe otherwise.

Council officals and police will tackle over 50 Peace protesters from various groups have been squatting in Westminster since May. Last month Mayor Boris Johnson finally secured an eviction order in the High Court after near farcical legal proceedings after the different peace groups demanded separate injunctions.

A post on the Democracy Village blog has called for a "mass callout to activist groups to engage in imaginative non-violent action".

Tents, banners, campfires, rubbish, and human excrement have been strewn across the iconic square; Mr Johnson said the camp had caused "considerable damage".

The protesters have been occupying the central London square to register their objection against the Afghanistan war and several other issues.

Democracy Village has housed an array of protesters, vagrants and helpers voicing concerns over Afghanistan, climate change, the Middle East and anti capitalism. They have called today's eviction an affront to democracy.

A spokeswoman for Mr Johnson said:

"The mayor respects the right to demonstrate - however, the scale and impact of the protest has prevented its peaceful use by other Londoners.

Parliament Square is a top tourist attraction visited by thousands of people and is broadcast around the world each day.

We would urge the protesters to respect the court's ruling and now leave the site peacefully."

Sit-down protest

Police are not expecting violence but will be on hand to assist council officials; a sit down protest is expected.

Earlier in the week, long time Parliament Square protester Brian Haw, who will not be evicted today, won a court verdict that he had been camping lawfully.

Mr Justice Griffith Williams said:

"As the terms of the injunction make it clear that he can continue to use a tent or similar structure provided he has the permission of the mayor, I would expect the mayor not to enforce the injunction against him until his application for permission has been considered."

More soon

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