TRAVELLERS have moved on to the overspill car park at Victoria Park in Keighley.

At least 14 caravans were today parked along the perimeter of the circular concrete area on the Bradford Road side of the park.

Bradford Council, which owns the public park, said it had assigned officers to investigate.

The caravans were accompanied by several cars, and both children and adults could be seen milling around the makeshift camp.

Councillor Abid Hussain (Lab, Keighley Central), whose ward includes Victoria Park, called for the travellers to be moved on as quickly as possible.

He said: “This park is supposed to be for kids, people who live in the area and people who want to enjoy themselves.

“Anyone can go to the park to sit down, relax or play in the park, but it’s not to accommodate people to live in the park. The travellers shouldn’t settle in this place.”

The travellers' arrival comes two weeks before the park is used for Keighley’s Spring Fair with major fairground rides and attractions.

Marshalls Amusements, which provides the rides, said that travellers had been in the park on a couple of occasions in past years when its operators arrived to set up rides. On those occasions the travellers had agreed to leave immediately.

The funfair operators are due to arrive on April 18.

A council spokesman said: "We are aware of travellers in Victoria Park, Keighley, and officers are investigating."