FENCING will be built at Hulton Lane Playing Fields in a bid to prevent travellers from parking on the land.

The information was revealed by Cllr Darren Whitehead during the Hulton Area Forum and follows a number of instances of caravans parking on the fields this year.

The Labour man said he had spoken to officers at Bolton Council who confirmed to him that the £18,400 'timber trip rails' would be placed at the site.

Cllr Darren Whitehead, Hulton representative, said: "A group of residents approached me and we decided to allocate time and get people together to discuss the issue.

"We were told that there were no resources left. Our budget of the area forum was nil and we were told there were no resources to do what we were asking, which was a deterrent like a fence that could curtail this activity.

"The truth is that we got confirmation that there will be timber trip rails. They will be 3m long and there will be a 1m gap between each. The reason for the gap is that a four-wheel vehicle can't get through.

"I have been told that this method was used on Leverhulme Park and that in 2016 there were four encroachments there by travellers. This year there have been none.

"So I hope that is a sign it can work. It is costing £18,400, which is being shaved off from different engineering budgets around Bolton, and it is going to be done by April."

There are already similar rails in place on the section of the field next to Wyndham Avenue and Cllr Whitehead described the new ones as a 'continuation' of these.

Over the summer, groups of travellers repeatedly set up camp at the playing fields in Daubhill, damaging the pitches that were revamped as part of a £475,000 investment.

It was feared the area had become the go-to destination for travellers, with up to 10 caravans parked their at a recent incident on September.

Cllr Whitehead's revelation came after several people at the meeting voiced their anger at what had been going on.

One resident said: "Why is it that when a general member of public goes on their with a motorbike some action will be taken, yet there are kids and adults traipsing around that field, driving through rounders matches and nothing is being done.

"There is nobody on the beat anymore. Where is all the help when this is going on on the fields?"