TRAVELLERS are making lives a “nightmare” after a midnight break-in and encampment near a supermarket.

A convoy of caravans and motorhomes stormed through gates on disused land near the Tesco superstore, in Larkshall Road, Highams Park, on Friday night (August 19).

A neighbour in a flat overlooking the land, who wishes to remain anonymous, saw men armed with bolt cutters open the gates before letting the “massive convoy” into the waste land.

At least a dozen caravans and motorhomes have now settled in the land, owned by Fairview Homes, with concrete blocks used to barricade themselves in.

The neighbour said: “We’ve been living with them over the weekend and it’s been an absolute nightmare.

“Kids are up until two in the morning shouting and screaming and dogs barking.

“It’s normally quite quiet at the back here which is why we like living here.”

“I’ve got nothing against them but they are making other people’s lives a misery in what is a nice little neighbourhood.”

The neighbour phoned the emergency services immediately after witnessing the break-in but the three police vans which did turn up, were unable to stop it.

The neighbour added: “It was quite impressive seeing how quickly they got in, it was over in about 10 minutes.”

Residents in the flats awoke on Saturday morning (August 20) to the sight of men urinating and defecating near the caravans in the waste land.

Dumper trucks have now been spotted in the encampment with rubbish being dumped in the site under the cover of darkness.

Jay Chauhan, estate manager at Mainstay Group, which manages the flats, said it might take some time before the matter is resolved.

He said: “This plot belongs to Fairview Homes, who are aware of the matter and they are working with the police and the local council to evict them from the site.

“Unfortunately this may take some time due to the complex legal issues involved.”

Cllr Sheree Rackham, of Highams Park ward, said she sympathises with the travellers, who constantly seek out new places to live.

She said: “But it is the devastation that they leave behind and the ruining of the properties of people who live around them.

“The private property company are taking it to court next week so hopefully it can be dealt with quickly.

“The travellers know they have about six weeks to live there before they’re evicted, it is just the mess the leave behind.

“I sympathise with them, I just wish we could find them somewhere more permanent and stop affecting other people’s lives.”