A school sports day has been cancelled after travellers invaded a Southampton park.

The travellers moved on from Riverside Park this morning after pitching up over the weekend.

This morning Bitterne Park councillor David Fuller said: “I’ve received an email from the Council and a resident confirming that they have gone.”

But parents of children at Bitterne Park Primary School received a text from school leaders which said: “Following an incident on the field this pm, which police are dealing with, we have risk assessed the situation and made the decision to cancel sports day for tomorrow. No child has been injured. We will confirm new date asap.”

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "We have received three reports over the course of today [Tuesday] of anti-social behaviour, including incidents of vehicle nuisance, in the Riverside Park area of Bitterne.

"We are aware of the travellers in this location, and are making enquiries."

Action to move the group of travellers from public land earlier this week has been branded “absolutely ridiculous” after they simply moved onto land next door.

Parent Will Cousens, 33, a retail worker who has four children at the school said: “It’s not the school’s fault- they just have to do what’s right for the kids. But it’s just so disappointing, especially when they come home and tell you how they’ve been doing with their training and everything.

“There was going to be a picnic as well. I don’t know why they couldn’t have just moved it further down the field.

“They could have had a couple of PCSO’s on site or something to supervise.”

As previously reported the school was forced to cancel their sports day rehearsal after a group of travellers set up camp on a field in Riverside Park, which is used by the school.

The group was issued with a section 61 notice allowing police to move them on.

But when the group of travellers simply moved a few metres off the field into Riverside Park, Southampton City Council issued their own notice.

Bitterne Park councillor Ivan White said: “To take away the enjoyment of sports day is just dreadful. Anything that should impede children’s fun. It’s such a shame that a small number of people should take away the enjoyment from our children.

“That’s the thing I was most afraid of – the school sports day and Riverfest this weekend.

Earlier this week, a council spokesman said: “The travellers have no legal right to be on the land and the council will be serving the travellers a notice this afternoon [Monday]. If they fail to comply with the notice by [Tuesday] the council will be issuing court proceedings as a matter of urgency to regain possession.”

Bitterne Park Cllr David Fuller said he had been contacted by Bitterne Park residents who were kept awake overnight with noise pollution.

He said: “I have been contacted by residents who have been concerned about joy riding in Riverside Park and noise in general – but of course I can’t link that with the travellers.”

He added he was concerned about the “impact” it could have on Riverfest - a community festival set to take place on May 27.

But just days before the one-day event - which aims to celebrate the Itchen and Riverside Park and is partnered with Southampton Sailing Week - organiser Catherine Wright said the travellers’ presence won’t be an issue.

She said: “We have plans in hand to accommodate the camp if the families are still in the park. I can categorically say that Riverfest will have no time for any anti-traveller nonsense."

However angry parents Bitterne Park Primary School pupils took to social media to vent their frustration.

One parent said: “I think it’s shameful. Riverside is a beautiful place. The council work hard to maintain it so the thought of travellers ruining the pitches and treating it like it's just another "camp" is disgusting."