A GROUP of travellers have now left an Upton car park after a near week-long battle with Malvern Hills District Council, in which they failed to comply with an eviction notice.

The group, which included three caravans, originally arrived at the Hanley Road car park last Friday, (May 26) when officers from Malvern Hills District Council went out and served them with notices to leave.

Amanda Smith, community services manager for Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We received a report last Friday morning regarding three caravans.

"A notice was served the same day requiring them to move on by Tuesday, (May 30).

"This was not complied with so we went to court the following day to secure a date for a hearing to obtain an order to move them on."

The court date had been scheduled to take place this Monday, but the group moved on overnight between May 31 and June 1.

A resident from Upton, who did not want to be named, said residents were outraged as the group stayed over the weekend and into this week, saying they had made a "right mess".

Upton resident Colin Ballard added it was not the first time travellers had been on the site, groups having arrived and moved on previously in the past year.

The authority's community services manager added: "We won’t hesitate to use our enforcement powers to take swift and decisive action to deal with illegal encampments on council property.”