MASS evictions are under way on the Sweets Way estate in Whetstone.

Bailiffs turned up at about 8am this morning to evict squatters, accompanied by the Metropolitan Police.

The former Army estate is due to be redeveloped later this year, and tenants were evicted in the spring. Activists have occupied homes over the past six months in protest over the redevelopment.

Speaking from the scene, protester Cat Denby said: “It is a big eviction. There are probably about 50 bailiffs, although not too many police. Two ambulances are on standby as well. There are people on the roofs.

“I was in one of the houses being evicted. They smashed through one of the barricades to get inside. They smashed windows and dragged people out. The last window we had our faces against the glass.”

Bailiffs are reported to be using cherry pickers - a form of crane - in an attempt to get protesters off the roof.

London Fire Brigade is also at the scene, although the Fire Brigades Union tweeted: “We can now confirm that firefighters played *no* role in evictions at @SweetsWayN20. They were mobilised to extinguish a fire in a garden.”

Repossession orders were granted at Barnet County Court last month.

Mostafa Aliverdipour and his family - the last remaining tenants on the estate - are due in the High Court later this afternoon, according to the Sweets Way Resists group.

The houses are owned by property company Annington, which says the estate has been earmarked for demolition for some time and tenants were given ample notice to leave.

In a statement, a spokesman for Annington said: "Today’s action relates to the mass eviction of over 50 properties currently illegally occupied by squatters.

“Two High Court Writs of Possession have been issued for High Court Enforcement Officers, working in conjunction with the Police to clear the illegal occupation of the estate prior to demolition and the development of new homes."