AN illegal caravan camp has less than a month to move before legal action is taken - despite being on the site for three years.

Roughly 15 caravans are stationed on land behind Fairways Diner within Fairways Garden Centre, on Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh, and the owner of the garden centre has until April 11 to remove the caravans or face legal action.

One Goldsmith Road resident, whose back garden borders the illegal traveller site, said that only a few caravans turned up years ago. There are now 15 caravans there.

The mum-of-two, who asked not to be named, claimed she regularly receives abuse from the people living on the site. She said that they have also damaged her property and regularly watch her and her children in the garden from the site.

She said: “It all started about three years ago when a couple of caravans appeared on the site. It has been regularly increasing since and there is about 15 caravans on there now. They are living literally a few metres from the fence in my back garden.

“They can see us whenever we are in the garden, they can actually see into my kitchen. I will be standing in the kitchen and can see them staring at me, some of them will smile and wave but it is not very nice.

“We have no clue who any of them are, and that is what is most concerning, they could be absolutely anyone.”

A spokesman for Rochford District Council, said that travellers must leave by April 11 or legal action will be taken against them.

He said: “We served an enforcement notice on this site last year in relation to the stationing of caravans being used for human habitation and also for a number of other planning breaches occurring on the site.

“The notice was not appealed and is currently in the period for compliance, compliance date being April 11.

“The matter will be passed to the council’s legal team if the notice has not been complied with.”

The owner of the garden centre refused to comment on the matter when he was approached by the Echo.