RESIDENTS are being told to expect an invasion of travellers and illegal encampments across Dorset during the next few weeks in the absence of an authorised site where they can stay for the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

The stark warning follows the successful eviction of a group of 20 caravans, trailers and horse boxes from the playing fields at Twynham School in Christchurch after police served a Section 61 notice to shift the travellers within 24 hours of arrival.

The group of travellers are believed to be in the Wimborne area, and it is expected they will eventually relocate to the north of the county for the Great Dorset Steam Fair when it starts next week.

The convoy of vehicles, 20 caravans and horses had arrived on the school sports pitches on Monday afternoon, after a padlock was broken on a gate off South View Road.

A group of a dozen vehicles and a horse trailer had originally gained access onto the site, with police moving on more that were waiting to get in.

But by Tuesday morning their number had doubled, after police moved on a second group camped on the car park at Bailey Bridge Retail Park off Barrack Road early on Monday evening.

"We were able to serve a Section 61 because they were on a school playing field which is obviously an inappropriate site for anyone," said Christchurch police Chief Inspector Andy Earley.

"A couple of vans had already left before we served the notice. The rest were all hitched up and ready to go but were just waiting for us to go down there with the documentation.

"We have a good idea that they will be heading north because of the Dorset Steam Fair next week."

Dave Ayre, head of business support at Dorset County Council, said: "Unfortunately these the consequences of not having an authorised site which travellers can use during the steam fair.

"Last year these same travellers used authorised facilities provided in conjunction with North Dorset District Council," he added.

"But efforts to provide a site this year failed when the farmer who previously offered the site withdrew in the face of local opposition.

"I'm afraid we can expect more of these unauthorised encampments over the next couple of weeks."

  • Travellers have also moved their vehicles onto the bypass at Blandford, police have confirmed.