ANGRY councillors and residents have called on travellers to move on after they pitched up at a Bradford park.

A group with eight caravans, several trucks and cars are occupying Eccleshill Park in Park Road.

The park is next to Holybrook Primary School in Rillington Mead, and an adventure playground, called 'Big Swing', which councillors claim is being cut off by the illegal encampment.

Councillors have stepped in to get the travellers removed after residents raised their concerns.

Cllr Geoff Reid (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said he contacted officials at Bradford Council and a land possession order has now been submitted to Bradford County Court to get the travellers, who moved on to the park on September 16, evicted.

The hearing is set to take place on Wednesday afternoon.

Councillors and residents also fear they will face the clean-up bill themselves when the travellers leave the area, with piles of rubbish already visible on the site at the park.

A Rookwith Parade resident, who did not want to be named, said: "The park is one of the more beautiful places around here for people to walk their dogs, but at the moment it has piles of rubbish on it.

"There are dogs barking all night and a generator for electricity is going all night too.

"I don't think it's right that they should take over a public place. There's a school near-by too."

Cllr Reid said: "There are a number of caravans down there. I hope that this process results in swift action and peaceful resolution.

"Greengates residents, who complained to me, are understandably uneasy. It is a profoundly unsuitable place for an encampment.

"It is adjacent to a primary school and children's play area at a spot where parents regularly walk with young children.

"While there is normally negligible vehicular traffic at the far end of Park Road, when I visited the site last week there were clearly obstruction issues on the narrow road.

"I also spotted an unaccompanied pre-school little girl from the encampment wandering through to the play area.

"The council and the police need to discover where the travellers have come from and why they have pitched up in such an unsuitable site in Eccleshill."

Fellow ward Councillor Ann Wallace (Lib Dem) also criticised the travellers.

She said: "There are safe areas for travellers to go to. This is a well used area, a popular place.

"We are anticipating a clean-up after they leave that has to be paid for by the Council.

"At night it's even worse for residents. People find it hard to use the 'Big Swing' play area."