A PARTY of travellers has been evicted from Ringwood’s Carvers Recreation Ground – and moved three miles away to a country park.

Ringwood Town Council got a 24-hour eviction notice from Southampton Magistrates Court on Friday and the group of around 12 caravans left the next day.

They have now moved to Avon Heath Country Park near St Leonards, a wildlife haven aimed at families.

East Dorset district councillor Mike Dyer said around 20 caravans and tents arrived in the lorry park.

He said: “The problem is finding a procedure to get them moved and that’s down to the county council.”

Ringwood Cllr Jeremy Heron said the travellers had kept off the cricket square, as requested, and had also keep the site clean and put their rubbish in bags supplied by the council.

The council had been angry Hampshire Police had not used a special Section 61 notice to remove them when they arrived last Monday.

The notices can be used on school grounds and places used by children.

The council has a contract for Ringwood School to use Carvers four days a week.