THE former award-winning beer garden of the Wakefield Arms in Park Road, Leyton, has been invaded by travellers.

The group have been at the pub, which closed earlier this year, for more than a month but have not been asked to leave.

Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Sullivan said: "The gardens by the side have been taken over by travellers but the council and/or the police cannot do anything until the owners of the pub get an eviction order.

"While the pub was still open, there was a planning application for knocking it down and building flats but that was thrown out because of over-development of the property."

Since the pub's closure another application has been submitted, which has so far not been accepted.

The pub, which in the past was a thriving business that won an award for best beer garden, has been boarded up after travellers previously managed to get into the building.

As well as using the beer garden for the caravans, they have also parked vehicles on the street outside the pub.

The Guardian has talked to a number of residents about their new neighbours.

One Park Road occupant said: "I am not very keen on them being here I think last weekend was the third weekend they have been there."

Another resident added: "It is a nuisance that the parking spaces have been taken. The vans seem to be breeding.

"It is a pity about the parking, and it is probably not good for the area."

However, he said that on the whole, the visitors had been quiet and had not caused trouble.

A spokesman for Waltham Forest Council said: "The situation is that it is private property so the council does not get involved."

At the time of going to press the Guardian was un- able to contact the owners of the pub.