Climate activists have vowed to continue occupying disused school land despite a judge ordering their eviction The group was told to leave the site of the former St Anne's School in Rotten Row, Lewes, at 4pm yesterday.

However, they announced half an hour before the deadline that they intended to stay at the site, which they want to use as a “space to change, to share and grow”.

East Sussex County Council said it will seek advice from the court on what its next step should be to clear the site.

Activists moved onto the land on Good Friday and set up a climate camp to highlight environmental issues.

They have also taken up the cause of the former school building, which they say is due to be demolished and along with the land sold by the council for development.