Travellers encamped on a building site are costing the owners thousands of pounds.

A convoy of about 30 caravans and other vehicles moved on to the old British Gas site at Whitehall Road, Colchester, after leaving the town's Sheepen Road car park.

Owners Stockplace Plc, which has plans to build a leisure centre on the site, today (Friday) instructed bailiffs to remove the group of about 60 travellers.

Barry Mather, Stockplace managing director, said: "It is a horrendous problem. They are causing a great deal of disturbance and damage. We are carrying out major building works to regenerate this area.

"This is a dangerous building site yet we've got all these kids running riot. The builders all went home today."

He said it had cost thousands of pounds to get bailiffs in.

The travellers moved on to the site on Wednesday night, but Mr Mather added: "We are very frustrated and disappointed by the level of help the statutory authorities have given us."

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