TRAVELLERS were moved on from a cricket club after a stand-off at an illegal encampment.

Three caravans and a motorhome arrived at Hoghton Cricket Club on Monday afternoon.

Staking out the site overnight, club volunteers and members of the community formed barricades into Tuesday morning to prevent more arrivals.

Cricket club members, who were at the site overnight, said the illegal encampment caused damage and piles of rubbish were left when the travellers moved on.

The club said it was grateful for support from the authorities and the entire community but that damage to kerbs and the cricket ground would now need to be addressed by volunteers.

Chairman Neil Eccles said: “It’s been very disruptive to the whole community because we had events planned that couldn’t go ahead.

“We did have lots of support with people coming over to help us out.

“We drew up a rota so there would be a group of us here throughout the night. We also blocked off access to prevent any more vehicles coming in.

“Now there is rubbish that’s been thrown around, including human faeces.

“It’ll be a big clean-up operation.”

Club president Rory McDonald said: “They left but only because the police would have evicted them.

“I am grateful for the support of the police and the council and the community who helped out.

“Because we are all volunteers who will help clean up, there’s no price on the damage, just a loss of the effort and pride we have in getting the ground up to scratch.”

Hoghton Village Hall chairman Ian Murray said: “We at the village hall were pleased to help out.

“It doesn’t seem right that a small group of people can cause such a fuss for a community and cause such a cost to everyone.”

Travellers were served on Monday night with notice to move by noon yesterday.

Police and council officers were at the scene when they left at 11am.

Brindle and Hoghton councillor David Dickinson said: “It’s plain to see the mess they’ve made and that they have left that rubbish there deliberately. It’s quite appalling.”

A spokesman for Lancashire police said a Section 61 notice had been served on travellers and they had been told to move on.