CAMPERS have set up home on a dangerous piece of Southend’s seafront, despite warnings and fencing being put up.

A large green tent remains on the patch of land, which overlooks Gilbies, a cafe on Western Esplanade.

But others are thought to be accessing the land on a regular basis as the long grass is littered with beer cans, bottles and the remains of takeaway meals. There is also evidence of fires being lit.

Cafe owner Sandra Gilbert said: “Kids are always on the land and during the two days of the airshow loads of people were all over the area.”

A fence surrounds the whole area and large black and yellow signs say Danger, Keep Out.

However, where that fence blocks a former pathway across the area, the wooden posts have been ripped away to gain access to the area, The tent has bedding for three or four people.

Southend Council is currently investigating options and funding to stabilise the ground and restore it to public use.

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “Obviously the land is very dangerous, not only to people using it, but also because any use could trigger another landslip, so we do everything we can to prevent people getting on it.

“We will be looking at that again and also whoever is living in the tent and we will be looking to move them on.”