TRAVELLERS have pitched up outside a leisure centre for the fifth time in the last year ... with 30 caravans now on the site.

Half a dozen caravans originally arrived a Rayleigh Leisure Centre, in Priory Chase, on Friday evening before the number rapidly increased over the weekend.

Council bosses are now considering increased security to prevent further trespassing with this the second group pitching up since the turn of the year.

Lib Dem leader Chris Stanley, councillor of the Downhall and Rawreth, has suggested using “mounds of earth” to stop travellers using the site.

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He said: “I’ve asked them to consider a wild meadow with mounds of earth around the side. They need to be at least one metre high. It needs to stop.”

Roger Hirst, the police, fire, and crime commissioner, visited the site on Sunday, alongside leader of Rochford Council, Simon Wootton, and deputy leader Cheryl Roe.

James Newport, councillor of the Downhall and Rawreth ward, said: “It’s really causing a lot of stress for people nearby. The situation needs to be sorted out.

“It increased massively on Sunday.”

Essex Police has been making “daily visits” to the site.

Cheryl Roe, deputy leader of the council, said: “We are really disappointed by the situation.

“We’re considering all our options to improve the security on the site and prevent this happening.”

Earlier this year, the Government approved the “Irish Option”, which will give police the power to move on illegal encampments at the earliest approval.

The new law has yet to come into force.

A spokesman from Rochford Council, said: “Rochford Council has been made aware that a group of travellers have moved on to land at Rayleigh leisure centre.

“Council officers are now liaising with Essex Police and the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit in relation to the matter.”