A LEISURE centre manager spoke of his terror when standing up to a gang of travellers who “invaded” Belhus Park.

About 70 caravans descended on the park, next to Belhus golf club and the Impulse Leisure Centre, after being moved by police from Lakeside Sports Ground.

Duty manager John Aldous said he was working at about 7.30pm on Friday, when he saw the mass of caravans enter the driveway “like a horde”, removing steel fences and cutting locks to get in.

Mr Aldous said: “They cut the lock off and started to drive in, one after another.

“I went down to the gate and faced them and told them they would have to do a U-turn.”

He added: “I stood in front of them telling them to turn around, but they got on the phone to their mates and about 20-30 men came and surrounded me and forcibly moved me away from the gate. It was very, very scary.”

Following calls, three police units came down to the scene, but, according to eye-witnesses, officers said too many travellers were present for police to take action.

About 20 caravans were left on the site by Monday, after police and bailiffs moved in over the weekend and on Monday afternoon.

All had left the site by Tuesday.

Leisure centre staff also reported damage at the site, with locks cut, three steel fences being removed and mounds of earth dug, all of which gave clearer access to the site.

Essex Police are yet to confirm if they will press charges.

Rumours have circulated since that the travellers were moved to the Thurrock border from east London by the Met Police.

The Met didn’t respond to the Gazette’s request for a comment, but Essex Police said they were “disappointed”

with the lack of communication from their neighbouring force.

Thurrock Council declined to comment on the issue, with a spokesman saying a meeting had been set up with police to look at how resources could be better co-ordinated in future.