Travellers could have to wait until the New Year to find out if their fight to remain on their illegal encampments has been a success.

The three-day hearing into a plea by travellers to live on green belt land at Five Acres Farm, Hovefield Drive, Wickford, came to an end on Friday.

The families have spent £30,000 buying the land - but Basildon Council wants to move them because they do not have permission to use the site as their home.

The council is seeking to banish them from the site on the grounds it is protected land, they did not seek planning permission to change its use, unauthorised development of agricultural land and a breach of a previous planning condition.

Published Monday September 6, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo