Kesgrave travellers leave after eviction threat

Thirteen caravans arrived at Grange Farm in Kesgrave last month

Travellers have left a Suffolk town five days after residents blocked green spaces over fears more would arrive.

Last Thursday Kesgrave residents blockaded parks, verges and gardens with wheelie bins and cars amid reports that more travellers were due to arrive at an illegal camp.

At the time the Gypsy Council called the moves "pathetic" and "shameful".

The Grange Farm site was being cleaned up before it being reopened, Suffolk Coastal District Council said.

Thirteen caravans were already at the site when rumours on social media last week suggested 100 more travellers were set arrive for a Christening.

Cars were lined up overnight to stop caravans moving on to the grass

People lined their gardens with wheelie bins

But despite the reports, just five children and their families attended Holy Family Church on Friday morning.for a normal daily Mass.

The travellers had been threatened with eviction by bailiffs and given until Wednesday morning to vacate.

A meeting to discuss the illegal camp had to be held in the town council's car park on Monday night after more than 70 residents turned up.

In a statement, Suffolk Coastal District Council said it was "exploring ways of making the area more secure, to try to prevent similar unauthorised encampments in the future".

About 70 people turned up to the car park meeting in Kesgrave on Monday night

Suffolk Coastal District Council leader Ray Herring chaired the meeting

"We apologise to local people, and regular users of this park land, for any inconvenience caused by the encampment and will re-open the site to the public as soon as possible," it added.

Speaking about last week's blockades, Candy Sheridan from the Gypsy Council said they were "pathetic" and "un-Christian" when people had travelled miles to celebrate a first communion for the children at the church.

There are 185 authorised travellers' pitches in Suffolk, but none in the Suffolk Coastal area.