Bradford Council is taking legal action to remove a group of travellers from a city centre car park.

The travellers are occupying a Council-owned pay and display car park off Burnett Street, Little Germany.

They arrived early on Wednesday, according to local traders, and the Council has now started legal action to evict them from the land.

John Major, Bradford Council’s assistant director for environmental health and regulatory services, said: “We are aware of the travellers on land at Burnett Street and have started legal proceedings to remove them from the site as soon as possible.”

The travellers declined to speak to the Telegraph & Argus yesterday.

Some traders said they had caused no trouble since they had arrived.

Danny Myers, of the Used Furniture Showroom in Otley Road, said: “They seem to keep themselves to themselves. We haven’t had any trouble off them.

“They’ve been coming for a few years and we have never had any trouble off them.”

Andy Donegan, of MaxPrint sign shop in Otley Road, said: “I’ve not seen any trouble, I’ve got to be honest. I can’t give them a bad press. I’ve not seen them leaving any rubbish or refuse.

“The worst I’ve seen is them putting little signs up and selling stuff.”

Joanne Smith, of the Textere Yarns mill shop in Barkerend Road, said: “Last time they were here, we found some damage on the doors, signs of someone trying to get in.

“Someone across the road said he saw people looking at our van, and a load of rubbish got thrown over.

“But we don’t know if this is the same group.”

It is not the first time Bradford Council has taken steps to remove travellers from the site.

The Council sought legal action against travellers camping in the car park in August 2011 and again in September last year.

There are two official travellers’ sites in the Bradford district – Bowling Back Lane and Esholt Lane – with 47 pitches in total.