A SOUTHAMPTON cricket team have been left stumped after travellers forced their game to be moved by setting up camp on their ground.

The team, due to play at Millbrook Recreation Ground tomorrow, were hit for six by the news that the travellers are camping out on the ground's boundary.

Following last-minute arrangements, the team managed to find another ground to play on at Southampton Sports Centre.

The arrival of the travellers at the council-owned recreation ground just over a week ago has caused a stir in neighbouring communities.

Regents Park resident Pauline Dartnall said the travellers have made a mess of the park by dropping litter and driving cars on the grass.

The 71-year-old said: "At first, about eight travellers turned up on the site. Now there's about 15 of them.

"They are making a real mess of the park.

"They've dropped their litter everywhere, and the children keep driving their cars all over the grass.

"It's not fair that they should ruin the park for everyone else - we pay for the park through our council tax and we enjoy using it very much, but they are stopping us from enjoying it."

Mrs Dartnall added that many of her friends had stopped using the park since the travellers arrived.

A council spokesman said that legal action was being taken to remove the travellers from the park.

She said: "Due to travellers at Millbrook Recreation Ground, we have changed the venue for the cricket matches booked over the weekend. They will now be held at the Sports Centre.

"The Millbrook Recreation Ground site has been visited by council officers who are working with the council's legal services department to ensure that the travellers are moved from the site at the earliest opportunity."

The news comes as Southampton City Council has submitted a planning application to set up a travellers' transit site at Monks Brook, in Swaythling.

The controversial plans have attracted more than 100 objections.