A FATHER has called for laws to prevent travellers camping in public places because his village is repeatedly targeted.

The move, backed by a local councillor, comes in a week which has seen police evict two groups of travellers, from Oswaldtwistle and Huncoat, using legislation which allows them to impound vehicles.

Anthony Regan said he was sick of his neighbourhood being used as a dumping ground after around seven caravans were parked up near his home for the fourth time in eight years.

The father-of-two lives 50 yards from where the current camp is set up in a field where children play, off Accrington Road, Knuzden.

"Why does this keep happening and how much of our resources does it drain, not just moving them but the clean-up afterwards?" he said.

"Why can't we have some permanent legislation to sort it out?"

Mr Regan said the travellers arrived at 4pm on Wednesday.

"It just seems to be an ongoing problem in Lancashire. This is the third or fourth time in eight years we have had them round here. Each time they make a mess, and the council promises it will never happen again. It's always in the school holidays. Our children are prisoners. We have banned them from going anywhere near the field for the time being."

Police gave travellers their marching orders last Sunday after they started to make camp in a field, in Fielding Lane, Oswaldtwistle, next to Rhyddings High School.

The travellers moved on after police brought a breakdown truck to remove their vehicles.

On Wednesday they ejected another group from a playing field off Bolton Avenue, Huncoat, before they had time to settle.

They used a piece of legislation allowing them to serve notices if the landowner has asked them to leave.

Huncoat ward Councillor Dave Parkin said there was still another group of travellers with up to 60 caravans camped on the site of the former power station, in Altham Lane, Huncoat.

He said: "Prevention is better than cure, but it needs full, cross-party support in the House of Commons.

"If they cleaned up after themselves it wouldn't be so bad."

Inspector Phil Cottam, of Accrington police, said: "We are getting a lot of this, and where the legislation actually applies and we can get hold of the landowner, we will try to direct them to leave.

"With playing fields it's not appropriate for vehicles to be there. You have got children playing, therefore there is every possibility of an accident happening.

"The land itself can get churned up so other members of the community can't use it. "

Inspector Ian McCann, of Blackburn police, said the Knuzden group were being moved at the weekend.