MEASURES are being taken to deter travellers from council land following an "unauthorised" camp at the weekend.

A group of vehicles were reported to be parked on land near a children's play area at Lodmoor Country Park but have now left, according to Weymouth Town Council, which owns the land.

Jane Biscombe, town clerk at Weymouth Town Council, confirmed the group had left the area by Monday and said the clean up cost was around £150.

"Weymouth Town Council is in the process of installing boulders to the perimeter of some of its sites to help prevent unauthorised access", she said.

"Unfortunately this takes some time and we were unable to secure an area of the Lodmoor site before access was gained by removal of the existing wooden posts.

"The travellers have now left the site and we have started the clean-up operation. Following that the installation of boulders will continue as planned."

In Dorset there are four permanent residential gypsy and traveller sites, plus two transit sites that operate during the summer months.

A spokesman for Dorset Council confirmed all residential sites are full. "This summer so far we have not opened the Piddlehinton transit site – to do this, the police have to use their powers", they added.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "We support the council and work with them."

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