A TOTAL of 49 families have applied to move to Colchester’s new 12-pitch travellers’ site.

The £1.9million site in Severalls Lane is due to open this month and Essex County Council is selecting who can move in.

The remainder will be allocated from the county council’s waiting list, which assesses factors including previous and current accommodation status.

Applicants will also be asked to provide references.

A county council spokesman said there Are 40 families on the waiting list requesting any site.

However, 49 families have asked to move to the new site.

They are predominantly Essex families across a range of ages including couples with young children, families with primary and secondary school-aged children to older couples.

The site has 12 pitches, including one for the site manager.

Each pitch has a small bungalow with a kitchen, dining area bathroom and a hardstanding for a caravan where the family will sleep.

Each family will be allowed a maximum of two dogs but no horses.