TRAVELLERS have pitched 12 caravans yards from Colchester’s community stadium.

Six caravans stopped on land at Axial Way on Saturday and were joined by six more by on Sunday morning.

Police say they are powerless to move the travellers on after it emerged an order preventing use of the land expired six months ago.

Gerard Oxford, ward member for High Woods on Colchester Council, said he could not understand how the order had been allowed to run out.

He said: “I’ve had irate residents calling and saying they thought the land was protected.

“The travellers are au fait with how the system works.

“I don’t know how the order was allowed to expire. Our experiences with the illegal occupation that have taken part in the past years have been bad.

“I’m hoping there won’t be any trouble but I can’t say for sure.”

The Essex County Council-owned land, which is close to the A12 junction, is used by motorists for access to the Severalls business park.

It is the only section in the area that has not got concrete bollards to prevent illegal settlements.

A traveller, who asked not to be named, said: “There are no gipsy sites around here.

“If they made a temporary site for travelling people to come and go from, they wouldn’t have this problem.

“They could put it out of the way and they wouldn’t have this aggravation.

“How can we cause any trouble when there’s nothing around here but cars driving through?”

The travellers told police they intended to stay for about a week.

Roger Grimwade, Essex Police spokesman said: “There is no evidence of any offences being caused. The police have been in contact with the local authority and the land owner may choose to take action at a later date.”