THURROCK Council is investigating how an enornmous pile of waste - thought to be around 1000 metres long - came to be dumped on riverside land in Purfleet.

The site, known a Cory's Wharf, and accessed by a driveway opposite Purfleet station - just after the level crossing - has been occupied illegally by travellers on and off throughout the year.

Last week, the Gazette revealed how indentifying and clearing up the waste is set to cost the local authority thousands of pounds.

A statement released by the council today said: "Thurrock Council is working hard to find out exactly who despoiled this riverside land; it has asked Essex Police and the Essex County Traveller Unit for all the intelligence they have on the traveller groups who were illegally camped on the site.

"The council will ensure any medical or other hazardous waste is removed safely and as quickly as is possible.

"The council is also seeking tender bids from contractors for removing the rest of the waste. It will then consider the best and most effective way forward to ensure the site is safe.

"In the meanwhile, the site is secured against vehicular access, as it has been since the last eviction of travellers on 13 October."

Travellers were first reported to have settled at the site on July 8 and they were evicted on July 30. The site was secured.

The second report was on September 25, and they were evicted on 6 October. On the same day a different group entered the site and they were evicted a week later on 13 October when the site was again secured.

Working with Essex County Travellers Unit and Essex Police, on all occasions Thurrock Council followed the normal legal proceedings to evict the travellers from the site.

The waste is thought to have built up on the site over the last two months.