TRAVELLERS who have caused misery for villagers in Helmshore have been moved on by police.

Around 15 caravans arrived at the former Airtours site off Holcombe Road, Helmshore, last week, just months after another group were served with an eviction notice to quit the site.

Travellers allegedly cut through locked gates to get access to the site where last year an illegal camp was set up.

Nigel Adams, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Rossendale and Darwen, today called for tougher action on illegal traveller camps.

He said: "Most travellers are law-abiding people who live in harmony with their communities.

"But there are some who are not, like the ones who forced their way back on to the Holcombe Road site.

These people abuse the system and cause huge disruption to local residents.

"We need to give Rossendale Council and Lancashire Police new powers to stand up for the interests of local residents."

Last year, the council's development control committee turned down plans by Bellway Homes to build six office units and 86 homes on the site.

The arrival of the latest group has resulted in calls for the issue of the unused land to be resolved after residents living nearby said they were kept awake at night by loud music, generators and barking dogs.

Harry Smith, 84, of Holcombe Road, said: "People who are in favour of these sites have never experienced it on their doorsteps before.

"There's nothing like it - it's horrendous.

Last week we had 30 generators going on until midnight which made a devil of a noise and then we were left with all the rubbish and the smell which came from that.

"Thankfully the owners have now put boulders down which will hopefully prevent the travellers from returning.

"I would like to see the land developed for industrial units to help bring employment to the village. We don't need any more houses."

Travellers can only be evicted from private land if the owner applies for a court order.

Airtours sold the land a year ago to Manchester Land and Building Ltd.

The site has been unoccupied for four years.

No one at the company's Manchester-based agent, Development Planning Partnership, was available for comment.