TRAVELLERS were today getting ready to leave land near Blackburn's fire station after council officers applied to have them removed.

The travellers said yesterday they had arrived in East Lancashire after leaving a site across the Pennines in Leeds.

Kieran Joyce, a member of the travelling community, said officers from Blackburn with Darwen Council served a notice on them during yesterday afternoon.

According to Mr Joyce the order gives the group 24 hours to vacate the land off Freckleton Street.

Mr Joyce said they did not intend to challenge the order, adding: "We will be gone in 24 hours. We've seen this many times before, so we know what to do."

Mr Joyce, 44, said the group would remove its six caravans and other vehicles from the land as soon as they could. "We need a base for the winter, so we will probably head towards Carlisle. We don't want any trouble so we are just going to go."

The arrival of travellers caused controversy at the site 12 months ago when at least eight vehicles pitched on the council-owned plot of land, at the junction of Byrom Street, Canterbury Street and Freckleton Street. The travellers then prompted complaints from nearby residents.

Sayyed Osman, deputy director of regeneration, housing and neighbourhood services, said: "The borough operates a formal travellers' site at Ewood and has a policy on the management of traveller encampments.

"When situations like this illegal encampment arise the borough liaises with the people concerned to try and reach agreement for the travellers to move.

"Unfortunately, where illegal encampments cannot be resolved the borough works with other agencies such as the police to secure a court order to have them removed."

Graham Burgess, executive director for regeneration, confirmed that the council was in the process of securing a court order.