TRAVELLERS who set up an illegal camp on the front lawn at Upton Country Park on Thursday have not yet moved on.

Three caravans pitched up on Thursday evening on an area of grass in front of Upton House which had been opened up as an overflow car park during the busy Easter Holidays.

Borough of Poole officers visited the site on Friday morning and provided portable toilet facilities and bin bags. The council has already begun legal proceedings to have the group evicted.

Peter Haikin, regulatory services manager, Borough of Poole, confirmed three caravans arrived in the grounds on Thursday evening. 

He added: "Council officers have visited the site this morning, and due to the sensitivity of the site we have immediately begun the legal process for their removal. A court date has been set for Wednesday 22 April, the earliest that the court was able to hear this case.”

Visitors to the park, one of Poole’s premiere visitor attractions, told the Echo the intrusion was an unwelcome one.

Sue Redfearn, from Parkstone, said: “This is such a lovely family place it doesn’t seem right. It would be a shame if they took over that whole area – and there’s nothing to stop them. I think families with young children might be put off coming – particularly if there’s more.”

One visitor, who asked not to be named, said she was shocked to discover the small group of caravans was a traveller encampment. “We wouldn’t have come down here if we’d realised. I definitely won’t let my dog off the lead now with them there.”

Another added: “I would rather they were not here, and when they go they tend to leave all their rubbish behind.”

One man told the Echo he called the police when he saw a group arrive at 7.30pm.

“As I drove towards the exit in my vehicle I was stopped from leaving because of a road block that had been formed by three large caravans," he said.

“A gentleman had got out and was fiddling about with the two silver gates to the field.

“The police had the information on what was happening, when it was happening. But nobody attended while I was there, and nobody has called me since, even though I was told by the operator that somebody would.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police said they were called at 7.34pm to a report of travellers arriving and officers were on scene at 7.48pm.