More than 25 police officers today moved in to evict travellers from derelict land near Southend Airport.

The group had been told to get off the site at Warners Bridge in Manners Way, Southend, by 10pm last night but had not moved when police checked early today.

The travellers' defiance of the eviction, brought under Section 61 of the Public Order Act, has angered officers who moved in to evict them this morning.

A team of 25 police officers arrived at the site at 10am in three vans and started talking to travellers.

Many of the men had left the site so officers began talking to female travellers.

Two flatbed lorries used for removing vehicles were also brought to the site.

Speaking before the operation to evic the travellers, Southend police planning officer Laurie Parker said he was prepared to do "whatever it takes" to get them out of the borough.

Published Friday September 3, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo