Travellers have been refused permission to set up a camp in Wickford.

High Court judges have removed an appeal to an injunction order which allowed travellers to stay on an unauthorised site.

An injunction preventing further development of the land west of Hovefields Avenue, Wickford, and restricting occupation to those living there at the time was granted in October 2016.

The council also served planning enforcement notices to remedy planning breaches on the land, which is designated green belt.

Occupation of the site has since changed.

In June 2017, Mr Justice Singh varied the injunction to allow named defendants and specified caravans to remain on the northern side of the site until all legal remedies had been exhausted.

That exemption was lifted today yesterday - Tuesday 24 July- by His Honour Judge Peter Hughes QC meaning Basildon Council can soon begin the process of taking action as appropriate to restore the land to a condition in keeping with its green belt status as authorised by the Planning Committee in February 2018.

The judge also awarded costs to the council.

Basildon Council is permitted to remove any caravan, mobile home, structure or hardstanding which remains on the land after Tuesday 21 August 2018.