MOTORISTS clashed with dozens of travellers today as caravans moved onto a road near Bolton town centre.

Workers were forced to sit in their cars for more than an hour after the group placed their vehicles on Calvin Street and began to unload sofas.

The police were called to the scene just before 7.30am and they began arresting some of the travellers for motoring offences and obstruction.

Officers arranged for a transit van to be towed away. Many of the vehicles had no tax discs.

Some of the travellers, most of whom have Irish accents, discussed the possibility of moving their vehicles from the road onto grassland nearby.

Meanwhile, motorists had to use alternative roads. Claire Morris, aged 29, an employee of North British Housing, which lost one hour of business as workers battled to get through, said: "The travellers were abusive when we asked them to move their vehicles from the road.

"Our fear was that they would use our car park. They should be moved on now. Bolton taxpayers will be footing this bill."

Her colleague, Liz Hunter, aged 35, said: "We feel like we have been running the gauntlet in and out of the office for the past two days.

"This area has been regenerated recently and it looks great. What will it be like when we return to work on Monday?" At 9am traffic wardens began booking many of the travellers after the police contacted the local authority.

Sgt Stuart Montrose said: "They began to block the road overnight and they have been causing an obstruction.

"We managed to shift five vehicles this morning to allow traffic through. They are a nuisance."

A spokesman for Bolton Council said it was trying to get permission to move the travellers from the site.

"We are trying to get a court order on Monday. Hopefully, if we are successful and we are granted the order, they should be gone by the end of the following day."