HYNDBURN residents today told of their upset after travellers moved on to land near their homes.

A convoy of around 20 vehicles arrived on the site, off Whinney Hill Road, owned by Marshalls Clay Products, just after 9pm on Thursday to the dismay of local people who have experienced problems with travellers camping there before.

Geoffrey Hill, 68, chairman of the Enfield Residents' Association whose Whalley Road home backs onto the site, said: "They have been on there a few times over the last few years.

"I have rung the police and the council and have been told there is a procedure for dealing with them.

"People are upset that they have come back. I had to put up with them using the bushes at the back of my house as a toilet last time."

Another elderly resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I saw all the lights as they drove onto the site and I rang the police straight away.

"Last time we had travellers on there they stayed for about six weeks and left such a mess."

Hyndburn councillor Tim O'Kane today said Marshalls had a responsibility to secure the site so that travellers could not get onto it. And he claimed the company had been asked to fence the area off following problems in the past.

He said: "Landowners should be securing sites after travellers have left.

"It is now two years since the last major problem on this site and despite assurances in writing to the residents association that they were going to secure the site Marshalls clearly has not done that.

"I have had a complaint this morning from one resident who said when he got up for work he looked out his window and saw someone defecating in the bushes. The residents up there could really do without this.

"I would ask the managing director of Marshalls how he would like it on his doorstep."

The arrival of the travellers on this site follows the publication of Hyndburn Council's new strategy for dealing with unauthorised camps in the borough.

Coun Ann Scaife, Portfolio Holder for Environment & Cleansing said "We are aware of this matter, as are the police, and the company who own the land.

"Environmental Health officers will offer advice and assistance to the landowners as appropriate."

Marshalls Clay Products were unavailable for comment.