LEGAL action was due to be taken today to evict travellers who set up camp next to a Fareham leisure complex at the weekend.

About ten caravans arrived on land by Fareham Leisure Centre late on Friday night. They based themselves next to a children's play area.

Council chiefs who own the site pledged to begin court action this morning to get the group moved on as swiftly possible.

Travellers attempted to gain access to the same area in August last year but were thwarted by police who had been following them.

They were tracked for around two hours in a bid to stop them camping on council-owned land and ended up in private field in Stubbington.

Fareham council's executive leader Councillor Sean Woodward said: "We will now have to go to court and get an eviction order to have them removed. We do fear that there will be a problem with rubbish being left everywhere, though."

"They have set up base right next to the children's playground near the leisure centre, which makes it intimidating for parents who want to take their children there.

"We are concerned and will do all we can to get them moved on."

Leisure centre bosses, who contacted the police, said the group arrived on the site, around 20 metres from the complex, late on Friday night.

Leisure centre duty officer Nigel Ashton said: "They sited themselves right next to the children's playground.

"They have been coming in to use the facilities here but we have not had any problems with them."

Inspector Richard Stowe, based at Fareham police station, said officers had been to check the site.

He added: "We were first alerted on Friday night and will be talking to the relevant council department on Monday morning."