Bexhill to Hastings road protester returns to tunnel 17 January 2013 Last updated at 09:05 A protester who tunnelled under a road building site was allowed out overnight by security staff, only to return underground the following morning. "Simon Sitting Bull" said security workers on the Bexhill to Hastings link road allowed him to leave the tunnel because of freezing weather. He said a "gentlemen's agreement" was honoured and he was allowed back in his tunnel to await bailiffs. East Sussex County Council (ESCC) said staff made sure protesters were safe. Police and bailiffs began evicting protesters from the site, near Crowhurst, on Wednesday morning. Up to 30 activists had set up the site dubbed "the second Battle of Hastings" to halt the construction of the £93.8m link road. Top of the morning Rupert Clubb, spokesman for ESCC, said that as well as Sitting Bull, a couple of protesters were still locked into trees on the site overnight, where temperatures fell to -5C. "We stayed there last night to make sure they were OK," he said. They can come down or come out of the tunnel at any time. That is up to them but we are there to make sure they stay safe while they are in there. He said the eviction would continue on Thursday, with the protesters expected to have been removed from the site by the afternoon. Specialists have been brought in to deal with any possible booby traps laid by the protesters. Simon Sitting Bull, whose real name is Simon Medhurst, said he was "top of the morning" after being allowed to spend the night in the camp under a "gentlemen's agreement." I can't praise them enough. It seems like an away day," he said. The tunnel rescuers made sure that everyone knew that if I came out I wouldn't be jumped and would be as warm as possible and keep the serious cold away. They are taking them out with the utmost care and friendliness. Contractors started to clear the trees and undergrowth in December in preparation for construction work on the link road. Anti-road campaigners took their protest to the trees in Combe Haven Valley at the same time. The road will link the A259 and B2092, crossing Combe Haven Valley near a site of special scientific interest.