TRAVELLERS were leaving a football pitch where they had set up camp.

The group set up camp on the field, near Fern Street, Farnworth, last Wednesday. They had moved boulders put in place to prevent caravans and other vehicles accessing the field after recent encroachments.

Bolton Council served notice on them to leave the site on Thursday morning, but they did not comply with it.

A court order was then served on the group requiring them to leave by noon on Monday, which was again ignored and the deadline was put back until 2pm yesterday.

Travellers move boulders to set up camp yet again in Fern Street, Farnworth

Police attended the scene for about 30 minutes from 2pm, but the travellers did not begin to move until nearly three hours later.

A separate group also arrived on the lower part of the field between Monday night and Tuesday morning. These were already subject to a live court order issued within the last three months, and have been told by officials they must move on immediately.

The council has now dug a trench to make access to the field more difficult in future.