CARAVAN owners have been told their storage rents will rocket by 300 per cent.

RoyaleLife, new owners of Dunton Caravan Park, have told those who store their caravans on the site that from October rent will cost in the region of £1,680 a year.

Mark Edwards, 51, who lives in Langdon Hills, has kept a caravan there for eight years. He said: “On average I have paid between £500 and £600 per year. To triple the rent to is simply outrageous.

“I assume many of these are retired people who simply may now not be able to afford caravanning.”

The park has 173 permanent residential park homes and storage capacity for 700 caravans.

Guy Rickard, 62, who lives in Benfleet, said he was forced to move his caravan to a new park because of the price increase.

He said: “It really did annoy me.

“Since I had the notice I’ve now moved to a new site near Braintree.

“It’s much more secure, and is costing me around £560 a year, so it’s worked out well but I feel for those who are not so lucky.

“I was nearly forced to give up caravanning.”

Robert Bull, chief executive of RoyaleLife, who own Dunton Park, confirmed the new costs.

He said: “As with any site it’s necessary to review rates from time to time.

“After acquiring this particular holiday caravan storage site, our review found that the existing rates were not economical and as a result they have been increased.

“This increase will allow us to continue to invest in the site.

“We hope caravan owners will remain with us to reap the benefits of those investments over coming years.” He did not specify what the benefits were.