TRAVELLERS have pitched up on a patch of grass near to a playground and football pitch.

Seven vans, three cars towing caravans and three caravanettes, arrived and set up on council-owned land off Malyons Mews on Thursday night.

Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, has assured residents the council won’t hold back in attempts to move the travellers on.

He said: “They are demanding attention, and officers will be in contact with the Essex Traveller Unit, and we’ll get the ball rolling.

“It has been a cat and mouse game with travellers recently, and we’ll serve an enforcement notice. It will take time, probably between one and two weeks to move them on. But we won’t slack and there’s no question we’ll respond to this as quickly as possible. Our track record is good in dealing with illegal encampment, the land is in public ownership so it’ll be easier to serve the notice.

He continued: “The law needs to be changed, and we really need to be in the position where we can submit 24-hour notices.”

A concerned neighbour, who can see the field from her garden, says that residents had an uncomfortable evening.

She said: “We heard them arrive at around 7pm last night, and it has been a real problem.”

“They were riding their motorbikes on the field and were making themselves known.

“It’s a public field, with pathways either side. I have no idea how they got there, probably from driving on pavements. It’s terrible as this is an area where children play, and people use it to walk to and from the bus or taking kids to school and nursery.”

A Basildon Council spokesman said: “The council is aware of an illegal encampment at Malyons Mews. Steps have been taken to lawfully remove the travellers from the land and the council is working with the relevant partners to address the situation. Any criminal activity should be reported to the police in the usual way."