A PARISH councillor has demanded more gipsy caravan sites to help prevent travellers from settling on private land.

Altham councillor Rennie Pinder has claimed Hyndburn has a major problem with travellers who camp without permission.

He wants to see the borough council and neighbouring local authorities tackle the situation by providing more camps.

Mr Pinder spoke out after a group of six caravans parked and caused damage to a privately owned field off Whinney Hill Road, Altham.

He praised Accrington police officers for their successful eviction of the travellers who left peacefully on Monday night when asked.

Mr Pinder said: "I feel sorry for these people but we cannot tolerate them going on other people's land without permission and causing damage.

"Hyndburn seems to have a major problem with travellers.

"The local authorities ought to make more provision for them and other councils not just Hyndburn should take their share.

"It would also be nice if we could see an overspill caravan site formed, where travellers who have just arrived could go until they could find somewhere else."

A spokeswoman for Hyndburn Council said there were six sites available for gipsies in the borough - one owned by the county council and managed by the borough council, and five privately owned sites.

She said: "The council owned site is usually full but with the five other sites we feel there is adequate provision for gipsies.

"Hyndburn is one of only four local authorities in Lancashire who provide sites for travellers, the others being Blackburn with Darwen, Lancaster and Blackpool.

"Councils don't have to provide sites and are not funded to do so."

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