A LANDOWNER has been left with a £2,000 clean-up bill after travellers spent two nights on his property in Stisted.

Three caravans moved onto farmland in the village during the evening of Wednesday, June 14.

More travellers proceeded to arrive the next day and refused to leave when asked to by the owner of the property.

The group eventually vacated the land when bailiffs were brought in to serve them notice.

The landowner, who asked not to be named, said: “When they left I was left with a load of radiators, sinks and other items of metal from houses that had obviously been stripped out.

“I was left with waste timber as they have two trucks and obviously work as tree surgeons.

“In total there was two skip loads of general rubbish waste including things like children’s bottles, toys, nappies and lots more.

“I had them on my land for two nights and I ended up with a bill for £2,000.”

The landowner rents some of the property to a farmer, who told The Times he lost four acres of crops and had to conduct a “massive clear-up operation” involving several members of staff.

Broken glass was also left in the field, leaving concerns about the safety of livestock.

The landowner said: “First they said that it was just them and nobody else was coming.

“They made up some rubbish about a broken clutch and a child who needed to go to hospital. I asked them to leave which they declined to do.

“The next day another 14 caravans appeared. They were asked to leave by myself and by the police and again they declined.

“On the morning of Friday, June 16, I got bailiffs to come and serve them notice requiring them to leave by 8pm that day, which they did.

“It is really annoying. I appreciate they need somewhere to go but they took fantastic liberties by what they did to my land.”

It is believed that the travellers moved on to Earls Colne and then Tiptree.