TRAVELLERS have set up an encampment on land next to Walton's Columbine Centre.

Tendring Council, which owns the site off Prince's Esplanade, said about 30 vehicles turned up on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the authority said officers have contacted the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU), which visited the site and served Direction to Leave notice on Wednesday morning.

A Direction to Leave notice gives travellers 24 hours to move on from a site.

If they fail to do so, the unit will be attending court to seek eviction.

The eviction process takes around five days to complete.

Officials said they will continue to monitor the encampments while the legal processes are carried out to remove the travellers from the site.

Paul Honeywood, Tendring Council's cabinet member for housing, said: "Once again travellers have camped illegally on district council owned land.

"We are having to follow the due process to get them removed.

"In my opinion this process needs to be streamlined - residents want action to be taken quickly and efficiently."

Last week, the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit served Direction to Leave notices after travellers set up camps in London Road, Clacton, and at Patrick’s Junction, near Phoenix Bridge, Harwich.

Court summons were served on the groups after they failed to leave within the timeframe. A court date has been set for Thursday.

Another group that set up at the Coronation car park in Walton moved on after being issued with parking fines by Tendring Council's car parking department.