A group of travellers have taken over the building formerly containing the Richard Klinger factory in Sidcup.

Approximately 40 travellers arrived on the site next to Tesco in Foots Cray in the early hours of Tuesday morning last week.

They have since locked themselves into the site, which is currently being redeveloped into a series of self-storage units by developer Chancery Gate.

Chancery Gate has now applied to the court for an eviction order.

Matthew Hooper, who lives nearby, said: “At 4am on Tuesday morning two men jumped over the fence from Tesco and locked themselves inside the site.

“Then about an hour later traveller caravans, transit vans and tipper trucks began to arrive.

“They threatened the security guards on the site who have had to be removed for health and safety reasons.

“At the moment there are about 40 travellers on the site but more and more people could arrive.

“They have stolen two generators and two mini-diggers.

“They’ve dumped huge amounts of rubbish themselves and I was told they’ve been charging people at the gate to dump waste. There are a lot of old people living in this area who will feel threatened and don’t want a travellers site nearby."

Jonathan Lee, of Chancery Gate, said: “We bought the site from Ikea about two months ago. We’re looking to redevelop the site and apply for planning permission shortly. Some travellers arrived on the site on Tuesday, and we have applied to the court for an eviction order.”