COURT orders are expected to be sought today to remove travellers from the site of a former high school in Burnley.

Several caravans and vans had moved onto land which once housed Towneley High School, off Towneley Holme Road, on Friday.

And efforts will resume today to evict the travellers from the land, owned by the borough council.

The site was transferred from the county council’s ownership in a land swap deal when the new Unity College was built opposite.

It is believed the travellers are part of the same group which has formerly camped on land between Thompson Park and Queens Park, and later on land near Liverpool Road.

Toilets had been provided at the new encampment but these were only installed following a substantial payment by the travellers.

Speaking yesterday, council leader Coun Charlie Briggs said: “We will be going through the appropriate channels to remove them from the site.

“We have already asked them to move on, and are still in negotiations, so hopefully this situation will be resolved on Monday.”

He questioned why the travellers had not diverted to the sole authorised travellers enclosure in East Lancashire, between Altham and Huncoat.

Insp Neil Watkinson, of Lancashire Police, confirmed that no action would be taken by the force unless the travellers’ presence resulted in related criminal offences.