A BOLTON firm is thousands of pounds out of pocket after travellers set up camp on its car park.

The group broke a gate to gain access to the site of the Newfoil factory on Bridgeman Street – and stayed at the site for a week.

A company spokesman said the firm was closed for seven days and production was stopped. She said: "We had to send everyone home and stop production. They left a lot of rubbish and waste – there were also problems caused to the building.

"It has cost us thousands of pounds."

The company, which employs 45 people, was forced to employ private enforcement officers to have the travellers removed.

Meanwhile, a group of travellers has moved onto a site in Bolton earmarked for a housing development.

They arrived on the site of the former Swallowfield Hotel on Chorley New Road, Horwich, on Wednesday morning.

The site was formerly owned by Redrow Homes, who submitted plans back in 2007 to allow for the building of 42 new apartments on the site.

The developer went on to fight and win a long running battle with Bolton Council regarding the number of affordable houses required as part of the plans.

A spokesman for Redrow said that the firm no longer owns the now mothballed site so could not comment on the situation relating to the travellers.