NEW drone pictures show the ever-increasing size of what is now beleived to be Europe's biggest Traveller site.

These drone pictures show the scale of Buckles Lane caravan park - thought to be the biggest Traveller site in Europe.

It has grown despite repeated attempts by Thurrock Council to restrict it.

The sprawling camp off Buckles Lane in South Ockendon is now said said to be home to more than 1,000 people - with an increasing number of the homes being used as 'bedsits' or multiple bed homes to migrants.

The camp was set up in 1980 as winter accommodation for showmen but has since ballooned to include all walks of life - and it has courted almost constant controversy.

According to reports, Eastern European men who journey into London each day to work in manual jobs are part of the population.

Criminals have also called the site home and recently there have been police operations there to exercise warrants. One operation uncovered an illegal guns factory.

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Earlier this year Thomas McKenna was found to operated a hidden weapons workshop at the site in preparation for a so‑called "race war".

The 60-year-old was convicted after trial of multiple firearms and explosives offences, including converting blank‑firing pistols into viable guns, manufacturing explosive powders and IEDs, possessing prohibited weapons and collecting terrorist information.