AS more than 30 large trucks were seen delivering 600 tonnes of hardcore to a traveller site, prompting fears a second Dale Farm is being created, we look back at a timeline of problems with illegal sites in our area.

Residents living close to the Hovefields site, in Wickford, watched in horror as nearly two-thirds of the five acre field - about the size of three football pitches - was covered in asphalt. It is claimed the land was then split into plots.

They told the Echo five caravans moved off the site on Friday - only to be replaced with three “huge” mobile homes and another caravan.

It is feared up to 50 new families could move onto the site - prompting the Hovefields Residents Association to call on Basildon Council to take action before it is too late.

Basildon has recently seen several traveller camps set up.

A group left a terrible mess - including dirty nappies and excrement - after they left St Nicholas Mews in the town earlier this week.

This has proved to be a popular spot for travellers, with many groups setting up camp on the verge near the new housing development.

It is not clear if the same group moved to Endeavour Drive, Basildon, as another camp has been spotted there.

Caravans have moved onto Chester Hall Drive, Basildon, with the number increasing as more arrive.

Basildon Council has referred the matter to the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit to take appropriate action.

TIMELINE

2001: The illegal Dale Farm site in Crays Hill is set up 2002: The illegal Hovefields camp is set up

JULY, 2005 - The first eviction at Hovefields takes place.

JULY, 2008: The Echo revealed how seven families had offered their homes for redevelopment, because they were sick of living next to the illegal Hovefields site.

DEC 2008: Billericay MP John Baron arranged crisis talks following an armed incident at Hovefields where four caravans were blasted with shotguns

JULY, 2009: Bailiff firms are asked to tender for Basildon Council’s £2.5million contract to remove 86 traveller families illegally living at Dale Farm, Crays Hill, and 15 more plots at Hovefields

JUNE 30, 2010: Bulldozers begin smashing up half of the Hovefields camp.

JULY 29, 2010: The remaining plot owners at the site are handed 28-day eviction notices.

SEPTEMBER 2010: More evictions take place at Hovefields

OCTOBER 2011: Huge eviction operation takes place at Dale Farm

OCTOBER 2016: Injunction was granted against any further development at Hovefields