BULLDOZERS have moved onto land that eco-warriers vowed to protect but mysteriously abandoned.

The small band of protesters had occupied land off Marsh Lane for six weeks in a bid to prevent Linden Homes building 130 luxury homes.

They claimed they would fight on whatever legal actions were brought against them.

They had begun burrowing under the site after sinking a 12foot deep shaft.

Their sudden disappearance followed the granting of a high court order which meant that bailiffs could have been called in to remove the group. But they were not needed as when workmen moved onto the 9-acre site to clear it they found the protesters gone. The shaft has now been filled in and work on preparing for the proposed development appears to have begun.

People living nearby, who hoped the Green Guard would succeed, say they are shocked at the speed with which bulldozers and diggers have been brought in to level the site and mystified over the sudden disappearance of the protesters.

"Linden Homes have said they are in no hurry to begin work and are only in the final stages of negotiating to buy the land," said one resident.

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