Residents have complained to the police and Bradford Council after a group of travellers returned to a site just two months after they were evicted.

The group of a dozen caravans arrived at the former Thornbury Primary School, off Leeds Road, this week and formed an illegal camp.

Householders in the Rushton Road area said the Council had pledged to put bollards up to prevent this problem but had taken no action.

Police were also called out yesterday after reports the travellers had broken into the school building and started using electricity to power generators. Nigel Jordan, neighbourhood watch co-ordinator, said people had been kept awake by the noise and dogs barking.

"I had 13 messages left on my phone from residents as soon as they arrived," said Mr Jordan. "We were told when they did move off last time that boulders would be put behind the gates so they couldn't get in."

His neighbour Kathleen Furness said that last time the travellers stayed on the site for six weeks and left a mess behind when they moved on.

Mohammed Khan, who also lives in Rushton Road, said: "The clean-up costs the tax payer money." He added that last time there were only a few caravans, but this time there were more.

Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq (Lab, Bowling) said he had been contacted by concerned residents and had alerted the Council's gypsy liaison officer.

"The situation is ridiculous because they have been on and off that site. They are causing the public nuisance and noise and we need to deal firmly with this ongoing problem."

None of the travellers would comment to the Telegraph & Argus.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: "We are aware of the situation and have begun legal proceedings. We are now awaiting a court hearing date. We are unable to block all the entrances as we have to ensure the emergency services can have access to the site."