GIPSIES must get off green belt land, the Deputy Prime Minister has ruled.

John Prescott has turned down an appeal against Bromley Council's decision to refuse to let three traveller families site mobile homes and caravans at Waldens Farm, St Mary Cray.

He recognised there is a need for gipsy sites in Bromley.

But in a report issued after the planning permission was refused, he said: "The factors do not amount to very special circumstances of sufficient weight to clearly outweigh the identified harm and to justify inappropriate development in the green belt."

Council leader Councillor Stephen Carr said: "I am delighted.

"We have always said we will do everything to protect the green belt and the people in the Waldens Farm area."