COUNCIL chiefs have threatened to take legal action against travellers if they fail to move from a park near a Southampton estate.

A group of travellers set up an unauthorised camp in Green Park, Millbrook, on Friday.

It is not known if the they are the same group who were evicted from the Sainsbury’s car park at Lordshill District Centre, who are no longer there.

Simon Letts, leader of Southampton City Council, said: “I would imagine they are the same group. As soon as it is reported the council will start legal process if there is evidence that they haven’t moved by the end of the weekend.”

As previously reported, groups of travellers set up unauthorised camps across Eastleigh and Southampton in the past weeks, including in Riverside Park, where a primary school was forced to cancel its sports day as a result.

Cllr Letts added: “We do what we can to protect open spaces but it isn’t very easy. We are a green city with lot of green areas to protect. You can never protect them all but when we have a persistent problem with a particular area we will put in physical barriers.”

A Hampshire Police spokesman said: “I can confirm we are aware of a travellers encampment at Green Park in Millbrook, and have officers visiting the site to assess the situation.”