ALL of the travellers at East Overcliff Drive have now been evicted after Bournemouth council officials secured a court order.

But while the group have moved on, their rubbish was left behind, with items including gas cannisters, dirty towels, cans, empty plastic bottles of milk and old food left at the site.

On Monday, just two caravans remained on the land - known locally as Monkey Island - after the majority of the vehicles departed on Sunday afternoon.

Approximately 10 vehicles, including caravans and campervans, arrived on Monday, June 15 at 7.30pm.

Residents complained of rubbish piling up by the bins, while firefighters were also called out twice after rubbish that had been burned set fire to grass.

And after caravans left the site yesterday morning, council crews got to work clearing the area.

Four officers carried out the clean up, which took a total of three hours.

Two van loads of rubbish were collected.

Residents had complained of the litter around the area.

One, who lives nearby, told the Daily Echo: "The travellers had been trying to burn rubbish, but the grass had caught fire.

"The bins are overflowing. It's not looking very nice at all."

Yesterday, patches of scorched earth could be seen at Monkey Island, with blackened and half-burned rubbish lying abandoned nearby.

The site has been on 'lockdown' since the travellers arrived, with security guards a constant presence over the course of their week-long stay.

It is alleged that the group moved two of the boulders placed on the borders of the land to access the site.

The boulders were initially placed at Monkey Island to prevent vehicles from driving onto the land.

A spokesperson from Bournemouth Borough Council said: "The council have successfully gained legal repossession of the land."

Baliffs attended the site to evict the group.

Comments have been opened on this story but please note: Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are legally recognised as ethnic groups, and protected by the Race Relations Act. Please keep your comments to this particular incident and do not generalise. Thanks for your co-operation.