SOUTH Essex MPs are putting pressure on the Government to change the law regarding illegal traveller sites.

Mark Francois, John Baron and Stephen Metcalfe are spearheading the proposal which, if agreed, would see trespassing become a criminal offence.

Illegal traveller sites have been an on-going issue in south Essex and now the MPs want to see action.

Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, said they are acting on continuous complaints from residents about the issue.

He said: “We believe this will be a strong deterrent if this is passed.

“The Government held a consultation last autumn into the issue and this is our response. We are now waiting for a reply from the Government.

“This is important because we are inundated with complaints every spring and summer about this.

“It seems to be getting worse and worse.

“In Ireland, there are similar laws to what we want to see implemented here and that is why so many travellers come here.

“We believe this is the best option to help deal with the issue.”

John Baron, MP for Basildon and Billericay, was not available for comment on his support of the proposal.

He said it has been signed by a lot of other Essex MPs and about 60 backbench MPs.

Mr Francois said he something needs to be done about the issue following so many concerns from south Essex residents.

They have written to Theresa May and Housing Secretary James Brokenshire, encouraging them to make acts of deliberate trespass a criminal offence.

A total of 59 Tory MPs - nearly a third of the backbench Conservative party - have signed the letter.

It includes former Cabinet ministers John Whittingdale, Sir Michael Fallon, the former secretary of state for defence and Priti Patel, the former secretary of state for international development.

The proposal to criminalise trespassing first appeared in the Conservative party’s 2010 general election manifesto.

South Essex has had a number of illegal travellers group pitch up across the district, including at Southend seafront and Sun Corner in Billericay.

Residents have expressed their frustrations at how long it takes to move them on and the amount of mess they sometimes leave behind.

Basildon Council has also been in an on-going battle to remove travellers from a site in Wickford which is currently going through the court system.

In its housing plan, Basildon Council needs to find space for 53 traveller pitches across the borough.

This has proved to be a contentious issue with the plan accepted by the previous Labour, Ukip and independent councillors thrown out by the Conservative-led government which replaced them earlier this year.