POLICE and council officials acted swiftly to try to remove a group of travellers from a site in Ringwood on Tuesday.

Officers served several families, who were believed to be on their way from the Great Dorset Steam Fair, a section 61 notice requiring them to leave.

Seven traveller caravans and associated vehicles moved on to the site behind houses off Parsonage Barn Lane, on Saturday.

It is believed the travellers gained access to the leafy site through a large gap in between concrete bollards.

A section 61 notice under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 can be used by police on any land except the highway.

The notice is used to remove individuals or their vehicles from land, but there must be two or more people trespassing before the section 61 notice can be used.

The notice does not require the involvement of the courts and is enforced by police. If unauthorised campers return to the location within three months, criminal prosecutions can be pursued.

Ringwood town clerk Steve Nash said: “We are just going up to the site now with the police who will serve a section 61. If the travellers refuse to leave they can be arrested.

“We are hoping that the group will go peacefully. The travellers have kept the site clean and there is no litter on there. As far as we know there have been no problems with the group.”

Ringwood Town Councillor Jeremy Heron said: “They moved in on Saturday and have told police they’ll be gone within the next few days, as the school term is starting and they have children.

“Obviously, as a town council, we cannot rely on that and we have started the process for their removal.”