TRAVELLERS who set up camp on private land on the edge of Almondsbury have been moved on.

Independent enforcement officers attended the site next to the A38 junction with Hortham Lane and served the trespassers with an order to leave by 2pm yesterday.

The families with around eight caravans plus a number of cars and vans moved off the site by 1.45pm.

The group had breached a security gate and moved on to the land the previous Saturday morning.

Enforcement officer Paul Wood, of Able Investigation Services and Enforcement Officers, told the Gazette: "The eviction went well with little fuss. As soon as we turned up with police they began packing, they know the score.

"They have left a small amount of mess including a gas canister, tyres and black bags which will have to be cleaned up.

"But they did take away an overturned burnt out car on the field which must have had some value."

Alarmed residents living nearby had contacted police when the travellers moved on the patch.

Bob Pritchard, of Sunnyside, said: "A lot of relieved local residents will be saying good riddance.

"There was concern the site may turn permanent and the worry of a crime element to go with it.

"But they have gone, probably to move on to some other private land elsewhere."