JOHN Beirne has challenged Home Secretary Jack Straw to come to St Helens to see for himself the damage caused by travellers.

The Marshalls Cross Liberal Democrat Councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate for St Helens North accused the Government of being "soft" on travellers at the expense of law-abiding council taxpayers.

He said: "It is time for the Government, and St Helens Council, to get tough on these people. Most recently these travellers have set up camp in Sherdley Park and on the newly-refurbished car park at St Helens Junction railway station, causing distress for local people and commuters.

"They seem to be a law unto themselves and, invariably, when they vacate a site they leave behind a disgraceful mess for which we have to foot the bill. We want tougher laws to protect law-abiding council taxpayers, not Jack Straw's soft approach".