A GROUP of travellers are being tracked by the authorities after they moved into the Rossendale Valley.

A 20-strong convoy of caravans turned up at Rossendale Council’s Futures Park, in Bacup, on May 2 searching for land to set up home.

After battling for more than three weeks the council evicted the large travelling community made up of both adults and children after applying to the court for a possession order.

The travellers left the site an hour before a warrant was due to be executed on the site to remove them.

But less than an hour after leaving Futures Park, in New Line, the travellers picked a new site at the old Stand Athletic FC, off Blackburn Road, Ewood Bridge.

Rossendale Council leader Alyson Barnes said: “The council has a rigorous system in place to ensure travellers are moved on from a site swiftly with minimal impact.

“I am concerned that we are just moving the same group of people around the borough instead solving the problem.

“I will be working in conjunction with our legal team to see if there is anything we can do to move them on quicker.”

Residents have voiced their concerns to the police and council about the illegally-camped travellers.

A Lancashire police spokesman said: “We have received numerous calls telling us about travellers moving on to the site of the old Stand Athletic Football Club in Haslingden.

“We have attended the site and spoken to the travellers who say they are planning to stay until the middle of June.”

The council said the matter now fell under the responsibility of the owner of the Haslingden site who will need to seek a court order to force the travellers to move on.