RESIDENTS in Astley Bridge claim they clashed with travellers after a group arrived in their street in late on Tuesday night.

According to people who were disturbed by the arrival of the vehicles at around 10pm, the travellers used their vans to push past cars to access the road which leads down to Barlow Park.

Police were called to Barlow Park Avenue before the caravans, cars and vans settled on to the football pitches on the park.

A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “There was a girl driving by at the time and she blocked them from coming in. A van then went up and hit into her car to move it. They were just really aggressive and didn’t seem to care what cars they hit.

Another resident said her daughter was afraid to go outside following the events on Tuesday night. Neighbour, Craig Ronson, aged 28, said: “I heard they were trying get into the street but because of the length of the vehicles they bashed cars out of the way.

“Personally I don’t mind if they are there, but it started off on the wrong foot.

“People are concerned because of negative experiences with travellers.”

Police say they were called to the area shortly before 10pm following several reports of anti-social behaviour but following further inquiries found that no offence had occurred.

It is believed the travellers had come from land off Eastgrove Avenue in Sharples, a five-minute drive away, after being moved on following a council enforcement notice being served.

They had been camped out on the land there for about five days and yesterday council workers were clearing the area – filling more than three vans with rubbish – and securing the field gate.

Relief as travellers move on from site near High View and Eastgrove Avenue, in Sharples

Resident, David Wrennall said he was very sorry for the residents who had to deal with the travellers now.

he added: “You just have to keep on at the council and just keep plugging away until something is done!

“I am happy they are gone. Their generators made a non-stop din of noise all night and a caravan was parked right up behind my garden so it blocked the view. I could see into the caravan and they could see into my house.

“They left a lot of rubbish behind down the bank. There was a slow procession of vehicles going down the road and the last two left at 10 o’clock.”

Last week travellers camped on land in Farnworth told The Bolton News: “Bolton Council don’t do anything for the traveller people. The traveller site is full. We have nowhere else to go.”

One of the travellers, who identified herself as Mrs Gavin, said: “The traveller site here is just not big enough.

“There should be more sites. We don’t want any trouble off anybody. We don’t know anyone that has anything against us. We’re clean, there’s no rubbish or dirt.

“We want our children to be in school and be educated, there’s just no room.”

In the past few weeks travellers have moved on to land in Fern Street, Farnworth, Doe Hey Avenue, Farnworth, Eastgrove Avenue, Sharples.They have left Fern Street and Sharples after eviction notices were served by Bolton Council.

The Bolton News asked the council how much each operation to secure the eviction notices and then clean up the sites had cost. A council spokesman said: “We do everything we can to remove travellers from public land as quickly as possible, using the powers we have available.

“We are liaising with the police and we have served the travellers with directions to leave. If they do not leave, we will apply for a court summons.”

The official site for travellers in Bolton offers accommodation for 26 families. There is a waiting list.

It is believed the issue was due to be raised at a meeting of the full council last night.