Travellers have set up camp on a site in Watford overnight.

Police were called around 5pm last night after 23 cars gained access to land just off Leggatts Way (pictured in the map below).

Giles Cooper said on behalf of Hertfordshire Constabulary: “We were called last night around 5pm after 23 cars, believed to be belonging to travellers, gained access to county council land.

“We are now liaising with the council and will continue to monitor the situation.”

The camp backs onto a residential estate off Leggatts Way.

One worried resident said: “They came yesterday at 5pm, in two flusters. The noise has been going on the whole night – especially the generators.

“The police have been coming and going, all we’ve been told is they have to wait for a court order to move them on.

“I’ve never seen anything like this on the land here before. It’s very worrying – everyone is very worried.

“It’s awful to have all this so close to the house.”

Chris Hayward, cabinet member for resources at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “We can assure residents that we are working as quickly as possible to deal with the situation at Leggatts Way.

"We are liaising with police and have begun the process for obtaining a court order for eviction.”