Up to 30 migrants living in sheltered huts along canal described by anglers as resembling a "mini Calais" and "shantytown in Rio"

The group of men, largely from Romania, have created the makeshift shelters with beds, seating areas and clothes lines inside the trees and bushes by the canal path just off Advent Way in Upper Edmonton. 

It is thought they settled on the Transport for London (TfL) owned land bordering Chingford up to six months ago.

Secretary John Weighell of the River Lea Anglers' Club whose members fish at Lee Park Way, described the situation as 'untenable' and claimed the wildlife population was rapidly declining. 

"The lake used to be alive with ducks, swans and fish but within two weeks of them arriving they had disappeared. 

"It stinks to high-heaven and you can see garbage hanging in the trees and bushes. Its looks like a shanty town in Soweto or Rio.

"For the first couple of weeks they weren't a problem but it has progressed making the situation untenable. 

"They're destroying the wildlife, intimidating the public and causing a nuisance," said Mr Weighell of Brookscroft Road in Walthamstow. 

Enfield police confirmed there was evidence members of the public had been harrassed and intimidated and anti-social behaviour was a "persistant" problem in the area.   

Landlord Shane Kilcrann of The Old Hall Tavern in Hall Lane, Chingford, is one of 100 members at the Anglers Club. His pub is situated less than half a mile from the encampment.

He said: "I think they've been there well over a year but it has come to light as the camp is getting bigger and bigger. 

"Walkers and cyclists, mainly female, come into the pub and tell me they're afraid, that they see people coming out of the bushes, and the smell is horrendous.

"It's disgusting and is damaging the wildlife. If it continues the way it is, it will turn into a mini Calais.

"This is not the way we live, its inhumane and unhealthy. 

"You can't just move into a beauty spot and call it home. The authorities need to crackdown and nip it in the bud now."

TfL has said the group will be visited and issued with a court hearing date next week. 

A spokesperson said: "We are aware that there are a number of people illegally living on TfL land near the Cooks Ferry Roundabout.  

"We are taking the relevant legal action to remove them from the site, and are working with the local authority as well as the emergency services to agree measures to prevent their return to the site. 

"Once they have been evicted, we will take swift action to tidy and clean up the area."

But engineer Adrian Baker, 28, of St James Street in Walthamstow has worked next to the camp for six weeks and says there is no evidence fish or birds are being taken out of the water. 

"I've seen them with crayfish traps; that's it.  

"They're getting up at 6am to stand outside Wicks in the hope of getting work. They're self-starting people trying to make a living to support their families.  

"At first, we were wary of them but they're polite and everyone who passes us doesn't have an issue with them.

"They need to be shown a bit of respect." 

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Healy told the Guardian's sister newspaper, the Enfield Independent:

"We have two Romanian police officers working with us to engage with them to gain a clearer picture as to why they are coming to Edmonton and what steps we can take to prevent such sites being developed. 

 "There are grounds to believe that members of the public have been intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed as a result of the presence or behaviour of two or more persons and that anti-social behaviour is a significant and persistent problem in the designated area."

The Environment Agency has said it is not aware of any incidents regarding illegal fishing in the Chingford and Edmonton area but is advising anglers and members of the public to report sightings immediately.