PALLETS being stored, bought and sold on an illegal site on the outskirts of Dunmow will soon be disappearing.

Enforcement officers have stepped in to remove the eyesore next to the A120 junction with Stortford Road and have set a deadline of March 27 for full removal.

The company operating the site had appealed against the same decision in June last year after officers from Uttlesford District Council told them to get off the council-owned land.

A spokesman for the council said: "The issue was taken to appeal and it failed. The appellant now has until March 27 to completely clear that area of land."

The land had originally been designated as countryside, making it impossible for anything to be built on it. However, pallets and vehicles started appearing in January last 2008.

Local residents have been questioning the legality of the use of land ever since.

Local rotary club member, John Bridges, said: "It has been there for a long time and I think a lot of people will be glad to see it go. That road is an important entrance to the town.

"I bet the users made a lot of money by trading pallets rent free. I just hope they don't go and set up elsewhere."

Should the site be still in operation after the deadline the council have the right to start criminal proceedings which could result in a legal case.