FURIOUS Atherton residents are demanding the removal of 40 gypsy caravans which illegally parked on land belonging to Lodge Farm on Monday night.

And they've collected £220 to pay for a court injunction to order them out.

The gypsies, unable to get onto the nine-acre site off Douglas Road though one entrance, travelled through the nearby Chanters Industrial Estate to gain access.

Furious farmer Mark Lancaster, whose family have owned the land for at least three generations, said: "I was appalled when the 40 caravans turned up and all the local residents are fuming.

"We have been advised by the council that I will have to apply for a court injunction to remove them, but that cost £220 which I shouldn't have to spend. The law should make sure these things can't happen, and though the gypsies offered me £10 a caravan to stay there, I told them they must be joking!

" I want to see these people off my land and out of Atherton as soon as possible, and certainly hope they will be gone by weekend.

"They promised they would not leave the field a mess but we've all heard those sort of promises before."

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