OLD sofas and piles of rubbish litter a site next to the M65 after police sent more than 100 travellers packing. The camp was broken up after complaints from local residents and from motorists who had become snarled up in traffic chaos.

Sixty caravans from Ireland and Poland moved onto the site, which is next to Junction 4 of the motorway near Darwen, last week. The area is being developed as an motorway service station.

Residents said the travellers used the land as a public toilet and attempted to sell three-piece suites. Blackburn with Darwen councillor Mike Barrett said: "Anything left there will be sorted out."