There have been efforts to remove a group of travellers from the Thomas More playing fields, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has said.

The Council said it is "taking steps" to get them to leave which has to be done through the court system. A resident claimed the field, located near Boothferry Road, has had caravans on it for six weeks and children have not been able to play there throughout the school holidays due to hazards from human excrement and rubbish.

The council has powers to move travellers from unauthorised encampments on council-owned land but must follow the law. This can take a long time and, in many cases, the owners of the vehicles will move on voluntarily without the need for formal eviction or court proceedings.

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Authorised traveller sites are located in Woodhill Way, Cottingham, Woldgate in Bridlington, and Westfield Road in Eppleworth. On its website, the Council said there is often a waiting list for vacant pitches at Woodhill and Eppleworth although space on the Woldgate site is "more common".

Travellers staying at authorised sites have to pay rent, although Housing Benefit can be used in cases of low income. There are shower and toilet blocks and a kitchen and each pitch has water and electricity.

A spokesperson for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "We are aware of the unauthorised encampment at this site and we are taking steps to remove this group of travellers from the land. We will carry out a full clean-up of the site once the group has left."