TRAVELLERS on an unofficial site in Nelson have been served with eviction papers.

Permission to remove the travellers from two sites off Carr Road was granted at a special court hearing held yesterday.

Rossendale County Court was also told the clean-up operation could cost taxpayers several thousand pounds and that crime in the area had risen during their stay.

Pendle Borough Council Executive John Kirk told the hearing: "We have had a substantial number of calls from residents in the Carr Road area expressing concern as to the safety of their properties.

"Police put on additional foot patrols and the local police inspector said to me they have noticed a significant upturn in crime within that location within the course of the last few days."

Mr Kirk served the eviction order yesterday and bailiffs must ensure they leave. Mr Kirk first visited the site on September 16, after receiving reports from "anxious" residents.

He said: "I went with three police officers and we noticed that access had been made to the car park by the landscaped area. I spoke to a number of older people who were concerned about activity involving a very large commercial vehicle with Polish registration from which was being unloaded soft furnishings, settees etc.

"These were being loaded into smaller vans with Republic of Ireland registrations. It looked as though they were engaged in quite substantial commercial activity.

"The people I spoke to said they were booked on a boat from Liverpool to Dublin on Saturday. However, we have tried to check this and had little success in verifying this story. The site was substantially litter strewn and there was also evidence of commercial activity and three piece suites stacked on site.

"Our contractor whose job it is to clean the public toilets on the site and to lock them at night and unlock them in the morning has, through intimidation, withdrawn that service and the toilets are permanently open and uncleansed."

Mr Kirk said that in total there were 24 caravans and 19 other vehicles. "The caravans certainly are not in poor condition. They appear to be very good vehicles and of substantial value," he added.

Mr Kirk told the court that since the hearing had been agreed he had returned to the sites to post official notices.

During his return visit he claims to have spoken to a man regarded by the travellers as the leader. He informed the man of the date and time of the hearing and of the procedure involved.

"My greatest concern is the cost of the clean up which will run into several thousands of pounds," said Mr Kirk. This will certainly cost several thousands in damage and cleansing costs."