AFTER WEEKS of bitter legal wrangling, the last band of travellers ousted from a sports ground in Christchurch finally packed up and left.

But where in the world did they go?

To the frustration of local residents the convoy of 10 caravans set up camp in the car park outside PC World, in the Meteor Retail Park, Somerford Road - just a mile away from the 2Riversmeet site.

The car park is owned by Isis, which instructed bailiffs to issue the travellers with eviction notices.

A police spokesman said officers were involved in an operation to evict 30 travellers from the PC World site. The caravans were removed under section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

This morning the travellers moved to a site in Hampshire.

Leader of the council Alan Griffiths said: "I think we as a town are sick and tired of being taken advantage of by people who only take and don't put anything back.

"The mess they left at 2Riversmeet was disgusting and shows complete lack of respect for the environment and the people who live here. It has got to stop."

The convoy of caravans left 2Riversmeet on Wednesday evening, but instead of leaving the borough they drove to Hengistbury Head car park, where vandals had cut the locks to a height restriction barrier.

After protracted negotiations with the police the travellers agreed to move to a site near the Millhams tip owned by Bournemouth Borough Council.

Police say the travellers did go to the site, before performing a U-turn, driving back into the borough and setting up camp in Meteor Retail Park.

Christchurch's Inspector Andrew Earley said: "Part of the problem is that people are prepared to hire them to do jobs. If people were not using their services they would have no reason to stay here."

First published: Sept 3