Eco-warriors who were at the centre of two protest camps now face another eviction after squatting on land in Hockley.

Camper vans and caravans are currently being lived in on green belt land at Creek View in Beckney Avenue.

A local resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims they had been causing mayhem since they decided not to move on when asked.

He said: "They have been hanging around and refuse to leave. They are making the place a mess."

The land they are squatting on was previously unoccupied and was mainly scrubland and trees.

It is next to the development site of 66 proposed luxury houses for which many of them fought hard to stop in a long, drawn out battle.

Rochford Council officers have approached them and asked them to leave but to no avail. It is now considering taking action through the courts if no further progress is made to remove them.

Christiana Tugwell, of Etheldore Avenue, was a main protagonist in the Etheldore protest camp and says the travellers want to stay in the area because of impending court dates.

She said: "They are waiting for an appeal court date because they believe the eviction process was carried out illegally and they will be vindicated. They also have to appear in court concerning criminal charges to do with the eviction."

Those living on the site moved to the area originally to protest against the building of homes on plotland between Etheldore Avenue and Wood Avenue, near to Beckney Woods. When the legal fight was lost, the ecowarriors joined campaigned against the building at Golden Cross Road.

A pre-trial review was due to be heard yesterday (Tuesday) at Southend Magistrates' Court to decide whether a trial will go ahead for nine ecowarriors charged with obstructing the under-sherrif in his duty at the Ashingdon eviction.

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