TRAVELLERS have set up an illegal camp on White Ash playing fields in Oswaldtwistle after breaching a council cordon aimed at protecting the gipsy-plagued site.

Today around 20 caravans, vans and horse boxes were parked on Harvey Street sports field, at the edge of the cricket pitch.

The travellers by-passed earth banking and a gate aimed at keeping them off and left tyre tracks across the cricket square.

This morning some of the travellers were sitting outside sunbathing and clothes were pegged out to dry on a washing line strung between trees.

Local resident Mr Alan Baxendale said: "Hyndburn Council has spent a lot of money trying to keep the gipsies off and they never finished it off. They have put mounds of earth and a gate up and just rolled a few stones at the side of the gate which people rolled over when they wanted to go through with vehicles. That's how they have got in.

"There are about 20 caravans on, at least ten dogs running wild and two ponies grazing.

"They are running across the cricket pitch with their vehicles and have left tyre tracks all over," he added.

Ward councillor Peter Britcliffe said: "The council did quite a lot of work to keep them off but unfortunately a gap was left and they have got through."

Local residents had been ringing him non-stop to complain since the travellers arrived on Wednesday, he added.

"My worry is it is leading to anger. I understand one of the residents tried to block the gap with his vehicle last night as more caravans arrived and the police came."

Inspector Mike Threlfall of Accrington police said: "There was a bit of friction between the travellers and residents and some advice was given to all concerned."

Hyndburn Council head of environmental health, Steve Todd, said: "If they don't move by co-operation - and I understand they are quite reasonable - we would then go to court to get an order to remove them.

"It's likely to be the middle to the end of next week before we are able to have the necessary legal authority.

"Because of previous problems, the council has gone to some expense to protect the site but they have found a way in. Perhaps it is not as well protected in one area as it might have been."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.