MORE than 30 travellers have left a nature reserve after being served with a court order.

In the latest of a series of incidents, travellers pitched up in Marshalls Park, which is part of Hoppit Mead Nature Reserve and is owned by Braintree Council.

Essex County Council successfully served travellers in the 13 caravans and nine vehicles with an order yesterday to vacate the land within 24 hours.

If they failed to do so the council could have used bailiffs to forcibly remove them.

The group pitched up in the park last Monday and a direction to leave notice was served two days later.

Braintree Council has signed up to the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU) scheme, which issued travellers a summons notifying them of a court date after the direction to leave notice was ignored by the travellers.

This means it refers incursions on council land to the group, which handles the process of moving them and site visits.

Appearing before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court yesterday, a lawyer for Essex County Council said no welfare issues were raised during site visits.