A gipsy family has won the right to stay on a caravan pitch after twice being evicted by Bradford Council and police.

Margaret and Joe Connors and their four children arrived at Mary Street Caravan Site in Bowling Back Lane on Wednesday.

They were on a mercy mission to help take care of Mrs Connors' father James Doyle, a resident at the Mary Street site, who has recently been released from hospital where he was receiving treatment for a heart condition.

But the couple and their children Joe, William, Danny and baby Eileen, quickly fell foul of Bradford Council which owns and manages the site.

They were evicted with help from Bradford police on Thursday and police were again called yesterday after the family had gone back to the site.

"We are moving on Sunday anyway, we just want to stay here so I can cook my father his dinner and look after him," said Mrs Connors.

"The pitch was standing empty anyway and has been empty for two months."

The Connors had further talks with police and council officers yesterday when they were told they could stay over this weekend.

A spokesman for Bradford Council's Gipsy Liaison Service said: "We have reached an agreement with the Connors - they will leave voluntarily over the weekend.

"At the moment all the pitches on the Mary Street site are rented out to families and we have a waiting list.

"Our site regulations do not allow more than one family to a pitch.

"The Gipsy Liaison Service has a reputation for being fair but firm and we also have a duty to maintain a respectable site for the families who live there."

Sergeant Dave Hunter, of Odsal police, said: "Basically the Council wanted the caravan off the site and the family didn't want to move.

"We attended to make sure no-one got hurt. We don't take sides. We did a bit of mediation and it ended satisfactorily for everyone."

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