RESIDENTS are calling for travellers to be evicted from the grounds of a derelict hospital.

Families in Boxted Road, Mile End, claim families who have set up camp at Severalls Hospital are causing a nuisance. About 30 people living in nine caravans are occupying the site.

The families told the Gazette yesterday they intend to stay for a week, despite being ordered by landowners, the Homes and Communities Agency and North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, to move on.

Traveller Frank Loveridge, 16, said the families came to the site after they were evicted from land near Colchester’s Community Stadium in Axial Way.

He added: “It’s hard to find places to stop around Colchester. We are not moving until Sunday. We are not hurting anyone, we are not touching anything, we are just here minding our own business.”

But residents have complained about noise.

Ron Abbott, 62, of Boxted Road, said: “Since they arrived, there has been constant barking and people have been told by the police not to go down there.

“It is annoying as it means local residents are being restricted by what they can do, while the travellers seem to be able to do what they like.”

Another resident of Boxted Road, who did not wish to be named, said: “My husband rang the police and asked if they would keep the dogs under control, but they said they couldn’t do anything.”

Emma Drake, a spokeswoman for the Homes and Communities Agency, said: “We are aware there are trespassers. We are taking the necessary steps to move them as soon as possible.”

Debbie Chisholm, Essex Police spokeswoman, said officers were liasing with the landowners.