TRAVELLERS forced to quit a site this week left more than just piles of rubbish behind.

The five families living in 10 caravans on Kerswell Green, Kempsey, near Worcester, for just under two weeks were given a court order to get off the land on Wednesday morning but also left behind a bill for parishioners for both the clean-up and the court appearance.

Kempsey Parish Council, which was forced to get the injunction after the travellers said they would only move on when legally obliged to, said the true cost of the court bills were as yet unknown but that they will be paid for by local people.

Chairman Bob Bowley said: “It will be paid for by the parish and therefore by the parishioners.”

The injuction protects five commons in the parish of Kempsey, including Kerswell Green, Kempsey, Stonehall, Ashmoor and Normoor.

If any travellers camp on these sites during the next six months they will be immediately served with the removal order.

Malvern Hills District Council will be responsible for the cost of clearing the rubbish from the site and will carry out the clean-up when the weather improves.

Councillor Bowley said: “There is a fair amount of rubbish there, which is no surprise. They left some tar scrap and rubble.

“Technically people who have work done like this should make sure whoever takes it away has the right licence to.

“We were lucky in many respects they didn’t cause any trouble in the village and as far as I am aware there was only one incident of them throwing a stick at a car.

“They went without any problem as they said they would. Most of them had gone by Tuesday evening before I served the order on Wednesday.

“We were pleased to get them away in the sense that they disturb the local population. People are concerned about gipsies but these didn’t cause any trouble.

“We will chain the common again but it doesn’t stop a group like this.”