A LARGE group of travellers have set up camp on a recreation ground used by children in Burnley.

Residents were left angry when a group of up to 30 caravans and vehicles arrived on Hargher Clough Rec at about 10.30pm on Wednesday.

People living near the site, in Harold Avenue, said yesterday they believed the group had made their way onto the land by breaking through a locked gate.

Now they are concerned that trouble may break out if they are not moved on quickly. They said the vehicles had completely taken over the land, which includes a play area and is used by youngsters.

Yesterday Burnley Council obtained a possession order from the courts, ordering the travellers to leave the site ‘as soon as possible’.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “They turned up late on Wednesday night. There are to 20 to 30 vehicles there.

“All the residents are very unhappy about this. I hope there is no trouble over the weekend.”

Some residents had raised concerns that the arrival of the travellers may be connected to a fair that was held on the land over the Easter holiday period, but Burnley Council said that was not the case.

A Burnley Council spokesman said: “The site is Burnley Council owned. We have obtained a possession order from court which will allow us to take legal action to remove the travellers.”

“The gate in question was securely locked by our parks team after the recent fair, and it would appear that this has been cut off at some point after this.”