TRAVELLERS have been given until today to leave a field in Shoebury or face police action.

Southend Council secured a court order yesterday, requiring the group of caravans to leave the site on East Beach.

If the travellers do not leave the field today police can take action to move them on.

The group settled on the field on Friday after a barrier to the land was left open. Earlier warnings from the council to move had been ignored.

The group of six caravans set up on the land after pitching down in the car park of the Homebase store at Rayleigh Weir.

John Lamb, Tory deputy leader of Southend Council, said: "They shouldn't be there. It is not an authorised site and therefore the travellers must go."

Shoebury Independent councillor Mike Assenheim said a gate preventing vehicles entering the grounds had been left open.

He said: "The council has said it will place an extra strong lock on the gate. Someone locally will have a key which means anyone who wants to get on the land and is authorised can do so.

"The travellers just drove in - had the gate been down they would not have been able to get in."