TRAVELLERS who have pitched up on land close to a football stadium have been given notice to leave, but look likely to remain in situ until after the Bank Holiday weekend.

The illegal encampment on land off Axial Way, Colchester, close to the Weston Homes Community Stadium and car dealerships is made up of travellers with approximately 20 caravans who have also brought animals with them onto the land.

The travellers arrived in two groups, with the first reaching the area on Tuesday.

Landowners Colchester Council contacted the Essex County Traveller Unit who visited the site on Wednesday and issued them with a direction to leave notice the next day, stating the group had 24 hours to leave or face legal action.

After the group decided to ignore the notice, the council’s legal team have been instructed to book a court date which has not yet been confirmed.

The travellers will only be served a court summons 48 hours before they have to appear.

A second group arrived on Thursday and were issued with the direction to leave notice on Friday, but the ECTU will not be able to return until Tuesday because of the Bank Holiday weekend.