Travellers evicted from disused Preston car park

The park-and-ride car park has been closed since early 2011

A group of travellers has been evicted from a disused park-and-ride car park after setting up camp there.

The group, with more than 30 vehicles, were thought to have entered the Bluebell Way site in Fulwood, Preston, while workmen were on site.

Lancashire County Council said it served an eviction order on Friday and the group had left by the Monday deadline.

A clean-up operation was taking place, a council spokesman said.

The travellers arrived there on Wednesday with caravans, vehicles and a horse box.

The park-and-ride facility, built in 2009 for £2m, closed in 2011 as it was underused.

The authority is working with two regeneration firms to assess the best use of redundant council properties, including the car park, which has more than 500 spaces.

It costs the council £1,000 a year to maintain the car park.