Romany patriarch Moses Willis this week hitched up his wagons and headed west with his family for their ''promised land''.

He and wife Annie, daughter Lisa and grandson Judd, four, say they were given such a warm welcome while travelling across North Dorset last month that they are returning for good.

Mr Willis said: ''The red tape brigade made our life hell, but we will sorely miss the hundreds of friends we made across the county.''

The Romany family became a familiar sight in the Maldon district, selling home-made wheelbarrows and flower tubs at their various campsites, mostly near the Safeway roundabout.

The family once made a good living fortune telling, but renounced it after becoming committed Christians.

The Willises have lived under the constant threat of eviction since arriving in Maldon five years ago.

A ''cat and mouse'' game ensued as Maldon District Council and Essex County Council highways department evicted them from various roadside encampments.

''We were offered a permanent pitch or a council house, but our way of life is the open road,'' said Mr Willis.

Yorkshire-born Mr Willis explained: ''We were given such a wonderful welcome by the people of Blandford and surrounding villages we feel it is a sign from the good Lord that we should settle in the West Country.

"Mr Willis plans to build a new Romany horse-drawn caravan and is confident the brightly painted ''vada'', towed by Jeffrey their horse will become a West Country tourist attraction.

Published Friday, April 18, 2003

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