TRAVELLERS who have camped on sites in Tendring over the past week have been served with notices to leave.

Tendring Council said that so far the notices, which require them to go within 24 hours, have proved successful and more are to follow after the latest encampment on Holland Marshes.

Two caravans parked on the grass verges on the marshes over the weekend, occupying the same site as a different group last week.

Paul Honeywood, Tendring Council’s cabinet member for housing, said that the Council is taking the most effective and efficient action possible.

“So far both groups – those on the marshes last week and those at Clacton's Brook Country Park – left within the required 24 hours,” he said.

“Should it not be the case with the latest group we would take action by applying to the courts for an order to remove the vehicles”

“This is the normal procedure where there is an encampment on land the council owns or is responsible for.”

Mr Honeywood said the district council has informed Essex County Council’s Traveller Unit each time.

The unit is expected to visit the site today and will serve a further Direction to Leave notice.

The travellers who moved onto Brook Country Park at the end of last week left on Friday evening.

A spokesman for Tendring Council said: “The gate that was used to gain access has now been made secure and two large granite rocks placed in front of it.

“A large amount of waste has been left and that will now need to be removed as quickly as possible.”