POLICE were called to Poole Park cricket pitch after a large group of travellers arrived there last night.

Dorset Police received several reports from around 6pm.

A group of travellers seen in the John Lewis car park in Branksome at around 7.15pm are believed to have joined teh larger group at Poole park later in the evening.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "From around 6pm on Tuesday June 23 Dorset Police received a number of reports relating to travellers in the area of Poole Park. Officers attended and are continuing to liaise with the local authority."

A Poole resident, who does not wish to be named, told the Daily Echo: "At approximately 9pm I had gone for a walk at Poole Park with my partner. We have been doing this daily since lockdown.

"When we got over to the cricket pitch we could hear a commotion and realised travellers had broken in and roughly 40 caravans/vans/cars had got onto the cricket pitch. Police were on the scene when we left."