Up to 100 travellers on Ironbridge park and ride car park

Some 20 caravans moved onto the Ironbridge Park & Ride yesterday, just a day after the car park closed for the winter season.

The group also brought horseboxes, cars and dogs on to the site, and teenagers from the group were seen riding small motorbikes around the area.

Trailer-type caravans ranging from small to very large had parked up on the site, with small dogs and children running around between the vehicles.

They have now been served with an eviction notice by council officials.

Local resident Keith Osmund-Smith said the travellers arrived during the night after being moved on from Hortonwood yesterday.

"They were first spotted at 7am as it was getting light, so they must have moved on under the cover of darkness."

Order

The 250 space car park, just off the A4169 Ironbridge bypass, was opened in June and is owned by Telford & Wrekin Council.

Spokesman Russell Griffin said the council has already started action to move the large group on.

He said: "We have served a notice on the travellers today through the police which means the travellers have to move by 5pm today.

"In all probability they won't go, so in that case the move will be enforced by police tomorrow morning. We don't know what time that will be if we have to enforce a move."

A spokeswoman for Telford Police confirmed that they had been informed about the travellers and said they would help the council to move the group on if they didn't comply with the order.

Until this weekend, the park and ride service was running every 12 minutes at weekends, bank holidays and school holidays.

But it closed for the season on Saturday, leaving the way clear for the travellers to move in.

By Pam Griffin