**** The Travellers have now left the car park. This story is from earlier today. Click here for the updated version ****

TRAVELLERS who have set up camp in the car park of a Dursley supermarket said they plan to leave today.

The group, comprising more than a dozen caravans, first arrived at the car park, at Sainsbury's in Castle Street, yesterday evening.

Speaking to the Gazette this afternoon, one of the members of the Irish group said they were leaving this evening.

Roger Harrison, who is staying in one of the caravans, told the Gazette the group were “leaving today”.

He said they were stopping in the town so that women in the group could do some shopping, buying items like children’s clothes.

Asked whether people in the area had any reason to be concerned about their presence, Mr Harrison replied: “No, we’re respectable people.”

Police were contacted and notified of the travellers’ presence in the car park.

A spokesman said: “We are aware that around a dozen caravans are camped at Sainsbury's car park in Dursley.

“We have been in contact with those in the caravans and made them aware of the standards of behaviour expected while they are there.

“They have told us they plan to leave in a couple of days.

“As the people are on private land it is now down to the landowner to seek an eviction order if they wish to do so.

“We have received one report of excessive noise but this was dealt with quickly and there have been no further complaints.”

Suzi Abraham is the chairman of Dursley Business Inclusive and runs the Hummingbird Cafe in Dursley's Parsonage Street.

She told the Gazette that traders in the town are seriously concerned that the impact on the town’s available parking spaces may lead to less business.

"In a way we’re very fearful because we don’t know about this group and only know what we’ve heard before about other groups of travellers,” she said.

“We are on guard, and traders in the high street are very worried about lack of business.”

Suzi, who has campaigned to stop cuts to parking provision in Dursley, described her frustration that, after fighting to hold onto spaces, a group has come in and taken a huge portion of the available space.

Sainsbury’s has not yet responded to the Gazette’s request for a statement.