A handful of campers who remain camped at Marsaxlokk were served with an eviction notice and a direct action notification this morning giving them 24 hours to leave the place.

The eviction notice was served by Land Department officials, the direct action notification by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The Land Department this morning served eviction orders at Il-Maluq, further up near the power station and under San Lucjan Tower in Marsaxlokk and at Qajjenza, in front of the Enemalta tanks, Pretty Bay and Wied il-Buni in Birzebbuga.

Last week, the Marsaxlokk campers were served with a Mepa enforcement notice asking them to leave the place by the end of the month.

But residents wrote to ministers Mario de Marco and Jason Azzopardi, asking for the campers to be removed immediately.

Campers who do not leave voluntarily in line with the notices they were served today will be removed forcefully next week, sources said.

Most campers have already left the place and only about 10 are still on site.

Some of the occupants were involved in a clash with resident protestors last Sunday, prompting nationwide anger.