EFFORTS to remove an illegal encampment of travellers at Felixstowe were continuing today after the group trebled in size and moved to a new site.Six caravans plus an assortment of trucks and vehicles arrived last weekend on the controversial south seafront site in Manor Terrace.

EFFORTS to remove an illegal encampment of travellers at Felixstowe were continuing today after the group trebled in size and moved to a new site.

Six caravans plus an assortment of trucks and vehicles arrived last weekend on the controversial south seafront site in Manor Terrace.

Now there are around 20 mobile homes plus many more vehicles and they have set up camp on Wireless Green in front of the Martello Tower 100 yards away.

The group say they are in the area carrying out landscaping and gardening work. They also have a horse, which is grazing on the land.

One woman from the group said: "We are just working in the area and we are not staying very long. I don't know why people get so excited – we are not causing any trouble. This is a just unused land."

She said the group moved the 100 yards so they were further away from residents' homes and would not cause any upset.

Suffolk Coastal council, which owns the land, is working as fast as possible to evict the travellers and has already served them with official notices.

David Smith, cabinet member for the Felixstowe south seafront land development project, said: "It is not a quick process because there are a number of procedures which have to be gone through, but we are working as fast as we can and action should be taken very soon.

"A number of the residents are concerned and we are keeping in touch with them about the situation."

Welfare checks and other administrative and legal processes have to be carried out before a notice of eviction can take place.

Residents say they have been advised not to give the travellers any work as this will discourage them from staying long.

The encampment site is part of the proposed south seafront site. There are ditches and railings to stop travellers using it – but the group appear to have simply driven through the main gates to the old Wireless Green car park.

The council is working with Bloor Homes to develop the land – which stretches from the Herman de Stern to Manor End – and a planning application is expected soon.

The scheme will include 209 homes with sea views, expected to make the developers a huge profit, with the council receiving in return some gardens, children's play area, public art, beach café, wooden galleon and ampitheatre.