TRAVELLERS have moved from Southend through Leigh and set up camp at a field in Benfleet.

Trucks and cars towing 11 caravans were spotted entering Richmond Park at about 10.30am yesterday, having left an encampment at Fossetts Farm earlier in the morning.

The same group were spotted on Two Tree Island, Leigh, at about 9.30am, but left after a matter of minutes and headed on to Benfleet.

The caravans have been parked in a small field in the eastern-corner of Richmond Park, near the Brook Road entrance, which nearby residents say is well used by sports clubs and dog walkers.

They want Castle Point Council, which owns the park, to evict the travellers as soon as possible.

Trish Tippet, 45, of Fleet Road, said: “They couldn’t have chosen a worst possible place. Benfleet Running Club uses it. People play football there and local charities have fetes on the weekends.

“We usually walk the dogs, but we can’t now because they’ve got great big dogs running loose.

“Our council tax pays for that park, and it’s totally unfair they think they can just pitch up here.”

The Brook Road entrance of Richmond Park is gated off at night, but is open in the day to allow access to the nearby Anglian Water sewage plant.

The travellers are believed to have gained entry to the field through a gap in the fencing.

The council said it is taking action to evict them.

Alf Partridge, St Mary’s ward councillor, said: “People are very worried about it. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing.

“One of my neighbours has gone out and bought barbed wire to go along the back of his garden.”

However, one of the travellers, who asked not to be named, said they would leave by Sunday.

He added: “We’re English gipsies.

“We’re good people, we won’t cause any problems and we’ll be gone by Sunday.”