A COUNCIL is bidding to have travellers evicted from the privately-owned land they have been living on since January.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has applied to have the travellers, who residents claim have brought as many as 100 caravans, ejected from Lower Eccleshill Road.

A special hearing will be held on January 5 when both parties will present their case, before a judgement is made.

The move came after a similar case in Cambridgeshire which may set a precedent for the hearing.

Travellers there were this month given permission by a High Court judge to appeal against a council's decision to evict them.

They claim their have a right to private and family life under the European Convention on Human Rights.

In Darwen, residents are continuing to complain about the travellers - and have criticised the council for taking so long before acting.

Stephen Grunshaw, of Cranberry Lane, drives past the site every morning and evening on his journey to and from work.

He said: "It can give the impression to the people of Darwen that they can build what they want and get away with it.

"The only reason no one is bothering about it is because it is not right next to houses. But a lot of people are aware of it because it is a busy road.

"They are packed in like sardines, which is up to them, but you can't have people riding rough-shod over Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning department.

"It would have been all right as a caravan park for people to store their caravans when they are not using them, but for people to be living there raises pollution issues, access issues and of course planning issues."

The site was originally granted planning permission for the storage of caravans without residential use, by Blackburn with Darwen Council in March 2002.

The site is privately-owned and not on council land.