Police moved on its second travellers’ camp in 24 hours from Kilverts Field in Grays today.

Around 30 caravans and vehicles set up camp last night at about 10pm on private land on Kilverts Field, off Argent Street, Grays.

Three police vans and two police cars along with council representatives used a section 61 order today to move them on to the Manorway in Corringham.

Police said they were not the same travellers as the encampment evicted from private land near Essex Sports Village on Purfleet Road last night.

A resident who did not wish to be named said: “It seems like a miracle, but I have just looked out of my window and they have all gone.

“They came during the night and the whole field was awash with them this morning, plus lots of horses etc.

“Just been in to the bedroom and looked, could not believe my eyes, but still they have left quite a bit of litter on the field to be cleared up.

“I dread to think what it would have been like if it they had been there any longer.”

In contrast to police, a spokesman for Thurrock Council said they were the same travellers that had been moved on from Aveley.

The spokesman added she understood the aim was to move the encampment on for a third time in 24 hours.

Council Leader Rob Gledhill, who was at the site to support the police eviction, said: “I’m incredibly pleased to see Essex Police use their powers to move them on.

“It is resource intensive, it is costly and ultimately they just are moving to different areas – but what we are demonstrating is that Thurrock is not the soft touch it once was.

"Since Monday's August 1 meeting with senior police officials we have seen a large encampment use multiple areas in Thurrock as their own.

“I would like to commend the police for their work last night, today and this evening – it goes to show that when the conditions and thresholds are met – the current law is workable.

He added: “I will be writing to our two MPs calling for a review in the law to both ensure that travellers are not able to move from place to place of public land and that open spaces are protected from this unlawful activity.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police were contacted shortly before 10.25pm on August 4 with reports of an unauthorised traveller encampment on land off Argent Street, Grays.

“Officers attended and a notice under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act was served informing them they had to leave.

“Police liaised with the landowner and travellers and revisited the site on August 5. They remain on scene to monitor the situation as they leave the site.”