Basildon's traveller crisis could be eased by new proposals to force all local authorities to allow the construction of authorised sites.

New laws could be introduced by next year to ensure legal sites are identified in all councils' development plans and could include a relaxation of the green belt.

Basildon has about 100 legal plots and 200 unauthorised developments, most of which are on green belt land.

But some neighbouring authorities have few, if any, traveller plots. and campaigners alike.

More in today's Christmas Echo