Travellers are preparing to leave the UK's largest illegal travellers site at Dale Farm but police are braced for possible further violence.
Bailiffs, employed by Basildon Council in Essex, removed the final five protesters who had chained themselves to barricades, while the main gate - images of which have come to symbolise resistance within the site - has been torn down with heavy machinery.
Senior resident Kathleen McCarthy said she now wished to leave, once obstacles are removed, and the majority of residents are expected to join her. Most plan to relocate to Oak Road, on the neighbouring legal site.
A small number of new protesters - some chanting pro-IRA slogans and who are not connected to the main resistance movement - have arrived at the site. A new scaffold structure has been erected inside and there is evidence of them collecting flammable items.
While the site is now largely peaceful, there were minor skirmishes with a handful of protesters on Wednesday night. Police are confident the main threat has been removed but are alert to the threat of renewed confrontation.
Superintendent Trevor Roe, from Essex Police, said: "As far as I'm aware, the residents have offered no violence whatsoever. Many want to leave and we are trying to facilitate that. We can deal with any other structures and any disorder at a later time."
Essex Police, joined by nine other forces under mutual aid, are keen to scale back their operation and allow bailiffs to take the lead once the threat of violence is removed.
A total of 34 people have been arrested and one charged with a public order offence of not removing a face-covering when asked.
Police have not arrested a man who was hit with a Taser as riot-trained officers entered the site on Wednesday. The person hit with the Taser "fell back into the crowd" and disappeared, Mr Roe said. He said: "If that person wants to make themselves known, we are happy to hear from them."
No travellers have been arrested and only one of those being held is local to Basildon.