A GROUP of travellers who moved into an area of green land in Farnworth have been served with a court summons.

A total of seven caravans arrived at the site, on land off Highfield Road and between Meads Grove and Buttermere Road, late at night on Thursday.

Shortly after their arrival, Bolton Council handed the group an official direction to move, but this morning the authority went a step further and issued a summons.

A spokesman said: “We always aim to move on travellers as soon as possible from their encampments.

“Directions have already been served on the group and summons has been issued requiring them to appear in court.”

Residents were concerned at the arrival of the travellers and immediately began to consult with Kelly Ashworth, chair of Highfield Residents Association.

She said: “Residents safety and wellbeing is the priority of the residents association. I really don’t want the ending of travellers on the land at Highfield Road to be dragged out. I want to see prevention put in place so this doesn’t happen again.”

The area was not covered with any anti-drive fencing or boulders - which are common deterrents on sites frequented by travellers - because no group had settled on the site previously. Some residents have voiced fears that the group may move to other green spaces around Highfield Road.

It follows a number of traveller encampments that have been set up in Farnworth and Kearsley during the summer, including sites on the area of land approaching Farnworth Cemetery and another in a park on Fern Street.

On one occasion, a community group was created to restore the playing fields behind St Stephen’s School, Kearsley, after travellers left litter and damage to the ground.