TRAVELLERS who set up camp in Darwen have begun leaving the site this afternoon.

The group, who arrived in Olive Park last Tuesday in caravans being pulled by two cars, were served with a notice for removal by the council's highways department on Thursday.

The travellers set up camp on land between the play park and the skate park and set out camping chairs.

Blackburn with Darwen council have been unable to remove them until now as the land is unadopted.

But the travellers are now currently in the process of leaving the field.

Darwen Mayor Roy Davies said: “I’m glad to see they are moving along.

“It will be relief for everyone concerned.”

Meanwhile, a group of travellers who moved onto the overspill car park near Ewood Park on Tuesday evening remain at the site.

Blackburn with Darwen council said a direction has been made to serve a notice on the travellers at Ewood.

A spokesperson for the counil said: "They will have 24 hours to leave from when it is served today. If they have not left by then, then we will resort to the magistrates court for their removal."