A children's activity camp could be under threat if a group of travellers do not vacate a popular playing field.

The eagerly-awaited summer camp at Odsal is due to start on Saturday afternoon and up to 50 children are expected to attend each day.

But last week, a group of travellers with six caravans moved on to the field where many of the activities are set to take place.

The summer camps, including activities such as football, cricket and tennis, have been organised by the Sedbergh Youth and Community Centre at Huddersfield Road.

Legal proceedings have been started in an attempt to evict the travellers but there are fears the site may not be clear in time.

Manager Arnold Butterfield said the travellers were using a gap next to the entrance to the community centre to access the Council playing fields.

"We have had to cancel three youth club sessions because of worries the children could step out of the door and be hit by their vehicles coming and going.

"We have a duty of care to the children that come here.

"Even if they do leave in time, we are worried about the state the fields will be left in."

"We will still be running the scheme - but won't be able to do all the activities."

The travellers had previously occupied a site in New Works Road, Low Moor, for a week before moving to Odsal.

Councillor David Robinson (Lab, Wyke) said: "There's a big event for a lot of children at the weekend so we need to get them off pretty smartish.

"What's really frustrating is that Bradford is a place with two sets of facilities for gypsy camps, but they still set up illegally."

Councillor David Warburton (Lab, Wyke) said the travellers moved onto the Odsal site two weekends ago, then left the site last Saturday only to return the following day.

He said: "Once they vacate the site we need to block the entrance so they can't get back on again.

"The centre is putting on all these activities for the community on a shoestring budget, then something like this threatens to spoil it."

Coun Warburton said the eviction notice would not be enforceable until the weekend because the legal process takes a long time.

He said: "We are hoping they will realise that these proceedings are going ahead and decide to leave."

The community centre's activities are scheduled to run for four weeks throughout the school holidays.

John Major, Bradford Council's head of environmental services, said: "We are aware of the camp at Sedbergh playing fields and our gypsy liaison officers have visited the site.

"Legal proceedings have now begun to remove them."

e-mail: will.kilner@bradford.newsquest.co.uk