Demonstrators had locked themselves in tunnels to try to frustrate attempt to take over site in Upton

Police and bailiffs have evicted protesters from the UK’s longest-running anti-fracking camp, which activists have fortified with tunnels, treehouses and a moat, months after the high court ordered them to leave so drilling could begin.

A spokesperson for Cheshire police said that by Tuesday night there had been a total of nine arrests during the eviction of the camp in Upton. Two people were given a section 35 direction to leave the area, which bars them from returning for 48 hours.

Cheshire police said: “Police officers will keep a visible presence at the location overnight and high court enforcement officers will remain on the site. Nobody was injured or taken to hospital during the eviction, and currently 20-30 people remain on Dutton Lane protesting.

“Cheshire constabulary would like to thank local people for their patience today and will continue to do what is necessary to minimise disruption to local residents and balance the lawful rights of people who want to peacefully protest, with the rights of those who need to go about their daily business, which includes the high court enforcement officers.”

The site has been leased by fracking company IGas Energy, which has permission to begin exploratory drilling in the area. IGas has a deadline of May to start work and protesters had hoped to stop staff accessing the site until it expired.

Protesters locked themselves underground and high up on unstable structures in an effort to make the eviction as long and costly as possible.

Anna Davis, an activist with Frack Free Dee, said police had blocked the road leading to the protest camp, ostensibly to guarantee public safety while it was being used by vehicles involved in the eviction. She said she and fellow activists would try to use country footpaths to reach the site, which police are unable to legally block.

Davis said officers had formed a ring around the perimeter of the field from about 9am. She estimated that there were hundreds of police, some on motorbikes, along with a police helicopter.

The protesters had blockades in place, Davis said. “Obviously when the bailiffs turned up, everyone got into position. There’s people up towers, in treehouses and down tunnels, and they are locked on.

“The numbers of police are really excessive, and it’s not just Cheshire police. We’ve got Heddlu [Welsh police] and Greater Manchester here as well. I believe, but I can’t say for certain, that one of our local councillors is on top of a digger.”

BayTV Liverpool News (@BayTVNews) Man carried off Upton anti-fracking camp by bailiffs and police #upton pic.twitter.com/vOEmzGjMQa

Karen Harris, an Upton resident and member of Frack Free Dee, said: “We surveyed our neighbours and over 85% do not want this industry here or anywhere else. There is no community consent for this work to take place and we’ll be doing everything we can to defend ourselves.”

“There is a school within 500 metres of the site and houses within 200 metres. We’re not stupid, we can look to America for 10 years’ worth of evidence as to what fracking means for communities. We won’t have our health and environment ruined just to make a small number of people a large amount of money.”

FangioMagmanimus (@PaulBowers70) Police say we say we can't go down Duttons lane emergency road closure is this legal? #upton pic.twitter.com/ivi1LagLJD

Paul Bowers, another local resident, spoke to the Guardian from the top of a digger brought in by bailiffs, which he had occupied after finding it unattended.

Police had circled him and he was being filmed by an evidence gatherer, he said. He feared being arrested within minutes.

Bowers said: “It plans basically to turn rural Cheshire into a gas field, and that’s why we are protesting.”

The camp had been continuously occupied since April 2014, but it has been extensively fortified since IGas was given a possession order in November. This month, a protester told the BBC that the aim was to instigate a “game of mousetrap” when bailiffs arrive.

Cheshire constabulary said police liaison officers had been speaking to protesters.

A spokesman said: “Over the period that the land has been occupied by the protesters, structures, tunnels and fortifications have appeared, which means the eviction process may be protracted.”

An IGas spokesperson said: “While we respect the right to peaceful protest, these protesters are trespassing as determined by the high court. We do not condone any activity that is illegal.”