TRAVELLERS in Farnworth are to face legal action from Bolton Council after they failed to leave when served with directions.

Council officers have also served an initial notice on a new group that arrived on the Fern Street football pitch yesterday.

The first travellers arrived on Thursday last week on the same site where another group spent around nine weeks in 2017.

In an update given to local councillors, a council representative confirmed that the authority would be pursuing legal action against the groups.

He explained: "Further to the update on Friday, the gypsy and traveller service has carried out another visit to the encampment, unfortunately five more caravans have joined the other encampments.

"Directions have been served this morning accordingly, we are currently awaiting summons from the court for the others who arrived Thursday and Friday of last week as soon as received, we will serve these.

Greater Manchester Police are also said to be aware of the arrival of the new group, consisting of around five caravans.

Another council spokesman said: “The group has been served directions and we are applying for a court order to move the encampment on as soon as possible.”

The football pitch was previously settled by more than ten caravans in April last year, after a group removed boulders meant to stop vehicles accessing the area.

Council officials had tried to take action but were unable to serve an eviction order as one of the families had given birth to premature twins and their welfare had taken priority.