TRAVELLERS have finally left the grounds of a Bradford Labour club after almost three weeks, but have left the club counting the costs.

The bosses of the East Ward Labour Club told the Telegraph & Argus they were losing out on up to £1,500 a week while the group of travellers occupied part of the site.

The group pitched up eight caravans and other vehicles on land at the club in Otley Road, Undercliffe, Bradford last month. Despite telling the T&A they planned to stay until St Patrick's Day in March, the travellers left unexpectedly on Saturday.

Treasurer Paul Reynard said the club had lost £7,000 since the travellers arrived after customers decided to keep away.

The club, which has 1,400 members, has also been hit by two cancellations of parties, which cost it around £3,000.

Members had applied for a court order, with the hearing due to take place later this month.

Mr Reynard, 68, understood that police were due to visit the travellers over the weekend, but they left beforehand, leaving behind a large amount of litter including broken glass.

A smoking area will have to be refurnished, at a cost of around £300, due to human waste left on the furniture.

Shortly before the travellers left, Mr Reynard said: “It has cost us around £7,000 altogether so far.

“The rate we are losing money at, it could get to the stage when we have to close the club. That is the worst-case scenario.

“Customers are refusing to come in. They just won’t come until the travellers move on."

Yesterday, after surveying what the group had left behind, he said: "It has been left a right tip - we've had to throw furniture from the smoking shelter away. There is a lot of waste left behind, we had some people from the community clearing up this morning.

"It will probably take a while before people realise it is business as normal again and start coming back here.”

When the T&A visited the site on Friday, one of the travellers, Mary, denied the club’s claims and said she would be willing to talk to club staff over the issue.

She said: “It’s rubbish, it’s lies. What they are saying is a bit far-fetched.

“It’s a bit hard to believe. It’s not like we are living on their pool tables.

“We are human beings at the end of the day.

“They can come around and speak to us. We want to keep everyone happy. We have to go somewhere.”

*Over the weekend a group of travellers encamped themselves on an area of land next to one of Bradford's busiest junctions. Several caravans had parked up in the parking area of the former L Heseltine and Son's furniture shop on Canal Road. The business has been empty since early last year.