VIDEO Reporters and photographers gathered outside Ipswich Crown Court today vying for a view of murder accused Steven Wright.The 49-year-old, of London Road, Ipswich, was to appear in court for the third time this afternoon to enter a plea to five charges of murder.

DOZENS of reporters and photographers gathered outside Ipswich Crown Court today vying for a view of murder accused Steven Wright.

The 49-year-old, of London Road, Ipswich, appeared in court for the third time this afternoon to enter a plea to five charges of murder.

Travelling from Belmarsh prison, Wright's prison van arrived in Ipswich just after 9am today.

A convoy of vehicles travelled along Wherstead Road before turning left after Stoke Bridge and continuing past Cardinal Park and the Royal Mail sorting depot in Commercial Road.

Wright arrived in Russell Road about 9.10am, the prison van escorted by a Volvo police car and an unmarked van with blacked-out windows.

They were followed by a 4x4 police vehicle.

Police officers and community support officers from Ipswich, Hadleigh and Sudbury stood at the approach to the gate next to the front doors of the court.

As the convoy arrived the gate swung open to allow the prison van into the grounds.

Another Volvo police car then appeared to go through the gates of Ipswich Borough Council's building next door.

As the vehicles passed photographer encroached on to the road, despite barriers, which had been put in place at 6am today.

Only a handful of photographers and two television cameramen were at court this morning but, by this afternoon they had arrived in their droves.

Satellite vans set up post in the Fitness First car park and photographers lined the pavement opposite the court, with a handful standing next to the court forecourt their lenses directed as relatives of the five victims arrived in court.

Most had arrived by 1pm but further family members and members of the public continued to arrive until just before the hearing at 2pm.

Among those attending were Wright's own family, his father Conrad Wright approached from the direction of Portman Road along with several family members and police family liaison officers.

Soon after Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull, the public face of the police investigation, arrived at the building.

Earlier this morning about half a dozen reporters had witnessed the arrival of Wright.

Passing members of the public spoke to the press to ask them what the security presence was for and some remained in Russell Road curious to catch a glimpse of Wright.

Several members of the public also sat outside the court this afternoon waiting for Wright's exit.

As Wright arrived at the building this morning, the only sound that could be heard was the occasional flash of a photographer's camera.

The buzz of media activity had multiplied this afternoon, with the sound of live broadcasts adding to the hum of traffic noise.

About a dozen police officers and police community support officers stood guard, with four at the gate of the court and the others spilt between the court entrance and the opposite side of the road

Two members of court staff who had been stood outside the building this morning as part of an organised picket to mark today's civil servant's strike, had gone by this afternoon.