Legal action has forced travellers to finally leave public land after more than a week of refusing to move.

Repossession orders were made by Havering Council and the Forestry Commission to remove the travellers from Hornchurch Country Park and the adjoining Ingregourne Hill after they arrived almost two weeks ago.

Initial requests for them to leave fell on deaf ears and complaints were made by residents of waste dumping.

But following the legal action the land was cleared on Friday.

The commission has employed contractors to clean up their side of the land but Havering Council said there was little mess left on Hornchurch Country Park because the travellers cleaned up after themselves.

A statement on the commission’s website reads: “The Forestry Commssion have been succesful in securring a repossession order for our site at Ingrebourne Hill and the land has been vacated by the illegal occupants.

“We are now working with contractors to remove a signifiacant quantity of fly-tip and other waste but this might take sometime to achieve.”