Eviction reprieve for peace campaigners

Peace campaigners facing eviction from London's historic Parliament Square Gardens were given a reprieve today by a Court of Appeal judge.

After considering applications on paper, Lady Justice Smith granted a temporary "stay" on orders won on Tuesday by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Campaigners lodged their applications for leave to appeal at the Court of Appeal ahead of today's 4pm deadline.

Lady Justice Smith ruled that all the applications for permission to appeal by the campaigners were to go before a full court as soon as possible.

The stay will remain in place until that hearing.

In making her decision she said: "It is plainly in the public interest that this matter is dealt with expeditiously.

"I think also that this is a matter of some real public importance."