A GROUP of Irish travellers set up a makeshift camp in Basildon yesterday afternoon.

Eleven caravans were spotted near Festival Leisure Park yesterday afternoon. The group, from Sligo in Ireland, said they were on their holidays and had broken down. There was speculation they could be linked to Dale Farm, but they denied this.

A man in his thirties, who would not be named, said: “We have just broken down. We have heard about Dale Farm though, and sympathise with them if they have been there for ten years.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police spoke to one of the families, who assured they would leave once the repairs were done.”

The group was served notices to leave.