A council has been slammed for failing to provide accommodation for gipsy and traveller families.

Maldon Council was criticised at a planning appeal over an application to site two caravans on land next to Broomfields Farm in Lea Lane, Great Braxted.

The council is required by the Government to provide 15 legal pitches by the end of this year.

Having had five years to reach this target, it only currently provides six pitches.

Planning inspector Clive Hughes told the council’s representative Debi Bunkell: “You have no policy in your Local Plan, no vacancies on council sites, no vacancies elsewhere and you’ve got no adopted policy.”