Council chiefs expressed disappointment yesterday after renewed attempts to evict travellers from a public park were pushed back to the New Year.

The group arrived at Eastbrookend Cemetery in Dagenham on November 1, moved to Central Park in Dagenham two weeks later after being served an eviction notice and are now back at Eastbrookend in the country park car park near Dagenham Road.

Cllr Mick McCarthy, the environment cabinet member at Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “This is a very disappointing decision, which means that one of our most beautiful areas of green space will be blighted over the festive period.”

A council spokesman said the local authority had worked “extremely hard” to have the travellers removed from the Millennium Centre in the country park but legal hearing was adjourned until January 4.