A COUNCIL official serving court notices to travellers was bitten on the ankle by one of their dogs, a report has revealed.

Estates officer Angela Stuttard was bitten by the animal in Ball Park Grove, Colne, last month.

A report into the events of the travellers' six days at the site will go before Pendle Council's Colne Committee on Thursday.

Council leader Councillor Alan Davies said today he wanted to tighten procedures so travellers could be evicted as quickly as possible if they return to council land. The cost of damage they caused to the site has not yet been calculated but it included dog waste, tree cutting and dumping of rubbish and glass bottles.

The report says about 20 caravans were parked on the site on August 11, despite a height restriction on the car park.

When council officers visited on August 12 they saw horses grazing, dogs roaming freely and children playing, but very few adults. A return visit took place the following day to serve court notices, and it was then that Angela Stuttard was bitten by a dog.

The incident has been recorded in the council's accident book.

The travellers eventually left the site on August 17, two days before court proceedings were due to commence.

Council leader Councillor Alan Davies said he had read the report and planned to ensure everything was done to speed up the process of evicting travellers from council land.

He said: "It's very difficult to know what to do in these situations.

"All we can do is be prepared to get the system working as quickly as possible and I will make sure our systems are geared up to move the day these things happen in future."

Angela Stuttard said: "I wasn't even sure which dog bit me because there were quite a few following us round. But it was nothing serious. It mainly got a mouthful of clothing."

The meeting will be held at the council chamber at Colne Town Hall on Thursday at 7pm.