RESIDENTS in Sutton say they are steeling themselves for another summer of litter, noise and damage... and they have accused the council and police of 'washing their hands of the problem'.

They claim that neither the police nor St Helens Council are doing enough to help them in their annual battle to rid the area of unwanted travellers.

Neighbours in the Morris Street and Oak Street area are the latest to be faced with travellers setting up camp close to their homes.

One local resident, who asked not be named, told the Star: "This is a terrible situation and everyone in the area is fed up of having to live with these travellers on their doorstep. When they're here I won't even let my children play outside because I'm worried in case anything happens to them.

"And when they move to the next place, they always leave a pile of rubbish behind them, such as gas cylinders and the like. Last time they were here they even left a burnt-out caravan on the land. It's disgraceful".

"This problem has been here for a long time but nothing has been done about it. The council says that the travellers are the police's responsibility, but the police say that because they are on council land, the council has to deal with them".

However, a council spokesperson said: "The travellers in question have been moved on from Sutton after the council sought a court order".

And Inspector Martin Woosey, area police officer, said: "The travellers are no longer at the site in Sutton. Of course, the police do take action where the issue of travellers is concerned, but there are a number of factors we have to take into account before we can do anything.

"We do appreciate the concerns of the local residents, but we also have to consider the welfare and rights of the travellers and their situation. The police and the council visit the site where the travellers are and then liaise with each other to decide the best way to deal with them".