A WEARY traveller who said his family is ordered to leave wherever they pitch up camp has called for greater awareness of their situation.

Colchester Council is taking steps to move a group of travellers with around 11 caravans, who arrived at King George playing fields, in Lexden, on Friday.

Lesley Scott-Boutell, ward councillor for the nearby Stanway, said residents had “concerns” about the group and warned people to remain vigilant.

“People should be aware of warnings coming from Trading Standards about cold calling ,” she said.

“I would say if people see something that doesn’t sit comfortably with then contact the police.

“If you see a crime being committed then call 999.”

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One member of the group, who asked not to be named, said his family had lived in Essex for around 25 years.

He argued there are too few legal pitches to accommodate his group.

He waved a fistful of notices he had been served ordering the group to leave encampments across the area.

“Everywhere we go we are ordered to move on straight away, it is tiring,” he said.

“We need better rights for travellers. We need sites somewhere away from the houses where we don’t bother anyone.

“We are all family, we mean no harm.

“As you can see we are bagging up our rubbish.

“We don’t go out thieving, we go out and work.”

He added: “I think there is good and rough between everybody, we do get a bad name because of the actions of a few.

“As soon as people see us they are afraid to come and talk, when they do they have a different attitude.

“When we first came here we had kids from the houses nearby shouting abuse, now they are mates with the kids here.”

A Colchester Council spokesman confirmed Essex Police had visited the site and said steps are being taken to ensure the travellers move on.

He said: “We are aware of the issue on the King George playing fields in Clairmont Road.

"The Essex Countywide Traveller Unit has been informed and they will be visiting the site to carry out the initial welfare checks.

“If there are no immediate welfare or health concerns the travellers will be asked to the leave the site.

“If they do not leave the site we will need to go through the courts to ensure their removal.

"If we have to apply for a court order the procedure will take between seven to 10 days.

“We are also liaising with the police regarding the encampment and they have also visited the site.”