Villagers have raised concerns that travellers could set up “another Dale Farm” in Tillingham if they go unchecked.

Parish councillors contacted Maldon District Council last week after the alarm was raised about the potential for travellers to occupy farm land in the village.

Alarm bells rang when a driveway was built on the land in Grange Road, despite recent planning permission for a house being refused.

Retired policeman John Williams, who lives next door to the site, warned that the village didn’t need a new Dale Farm - a notorious illegal traveller camp in Basildon.

The 66-year-old said: “It’s just a field entrance but this very ornate block paving went in.

“It was totally out of keeping unless you go to a gypsy camp and you see the same thing."

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