A FARMER has blamed residents paying travellers to do work for the number of encampments springing up in Tendring.

A group of up to 16 caravans pitched up on a field at Matt Swain's farm in Little Clacton last week.

The travellers had been threatened with an eviction order after setting up camp on nearby Brook Country Park.

Instead of leaving the area, they simply moved on to a field just over a mile away at Bovills Hall Farm.

"They left there and came straight to mine," said Mr Swain, who has farmed in Little Clacton for 30 years.

"I was very polite with them and they left on Wednesday afternoon.

"We've had travellers here three times and I've always managed to get them off using diplomacy.

Mr Swain blames their arrival in the district on the residents who employ them do work.

"There is always a sense of outrage when the travellers come," said Mr Swain.

"But they were here specifically to work, doing driveways.

"They come here because there is work here. They wouldn't come if the residents of Clacton didn't use their services.

“The advice has to be to use reputable tradesmen.”

A car was left abandoned on Mr Swain's land, along with a mound of building waste.

He says ten loads of rubble were also dumped at a neighbouring farm.

"There is no such thing as a cheap driveway and the cost is always borne by the farmer or landowner," said Mr Swain.

"It will cost me a couple of hundreds of pounds to clear up after the travellers, and I was lucky."

Landowners are left footing any eviction and clean-up bills if travellers stop on private land.

Last year it cost Tendring Council about £20,000 to deal with 25 encampments.

Housing boss Paul Honeywood also urged residents to employ local tradesmen.

"With local traders you have more of a come-back if you are unhappy with the work carried out," he said.

"It helps our local community to thrive."