Residents fear that a travellers site will become a “graveyard for mobile homes” after two caravans were set alight and dumped.

Residents have spoken of their frustrations of the continuing mess and disorder that is happening at the Hovefields site in Wickford.

A resident from Wickford, who asked not to be named, told the Echo two derelict caravans were set ablaze in the middle of the site.

He added there were two more caravans settling in on Hovefields last week. There have been ongoing fears that the large green belt site could become the second Dale Farm.

He said: “There are now two burned out shells of mobile homes sitting in the middle of the land, one of which is piled high with tree cuttings, no doubt to be burnt at some point. It’s beginning to look like a graveyard for mobile homes.

“Two more caravans have moved into Hovefields site last week. It’s just been very frustrating because they find loopholes in the current laws. They just don’t care about rules and regulations.

“Since caravans are mobile, they can easily move around. They can drive from an illegal plot of land onto a legal development site. It’s just frustrating for residents.

“If you’re savvy with planning and developing laws, you can work around it. It’s a cat and mouse game between Basildon Council and travellers.”

The first caravan was set alight last Tuesday just after 8pm and two fire engines were sent out to extinguish the flames.

The fire service said the cause of the fire was undetermined. The fire service had not received any reports of a second caravan being set alight.

Jill Walsh, 63, a resident who lives in Hovefields, said: “We were concerned about the caravan being set on fire. Police also attended the scene.

“It could have been very dangerous because there’s grass and lots of shrubbery nearby, it could have caused very serious damage.” The Echo reported last week how councillors decided against taking direct action against unauthorised development by travellers at Hovefields.