COUNCIL bosses have pledged to act over a group of travellers who have parked next to a Tesco superstore after a string of complaints from nearby residents.

A group of about a dozen caravans moved on to the grassland, near the Blackburn store on Monday afternoon and locals are concerned.

Mr Derek White, 72, of Burnley Close, just yards from the group, said: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

", but there's not very much we can do about it."

Mr Martin Burberry, 37, also of Burnley Close, added: "Travellers have been on the site before and they left the place in a terrible state last time."

Another woman in the same road, who asked not to be identified, said: "I am worried about what they might do."

Travellers have stayed on the site before and Blackburn with Darwen Council took measures to try to keep them off the land by building a ditch and bank along the edge of the grass.

However a dirt track leads directly on to the grass which is easily accessible from Accrington Road. Today, Alan Peake, Director of Technical Services at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: "Travellers have been in the borough since the beginning of May, camping on both public and private land.

"They have so far been removed from Council land on four occasions and are now on land in front of Tesco's. Discussions are taking place with the police for them to be removed from this site.

"The Council automatically cleans up sites as soon as they are vacated, and repairs mounds or barriers to try and prevent travellers moving back on to sites.

"Council officers deal with unauthorised traveller encampments in accordance with Government guidance and general law. In order to meet legal and

operational requirements means it can take up to a week or so to move travellers on." The travellers themselves said they only planned to stay on the site for a few days as they were usually moved on by the council.

Tesco declined to comment.