Clean-up operation has begun to clear the site that's been occupied by travellers in Harborough

Fencing has now been erected to cordon off the land and prevent a repeat of the incident before new permanent railings are installed
An exhaustive clean-up is being carried out by expert contractors on a site that's been occupied by travellers in Market Harborough.An exhaustive clean-up is being carried out by expert contractors on a site that's been occupied by travellers in Market Harborough.
An exhaustive clean-up is being carried out by expert contractors on a site that's been occupied by travellers in Market Harborough.

An exhaustive clean-up is being carried out by expert contractors on a site that's been occupied by travellers in Market Harborough.

The costly specialist operation has gone ahead after a group of five caravans, six ponies and various vehicles left on Wednesday night.

The travellers loaded up and drove off after being given a High Court notice to leave the green by the new Wellington Place estate off Leicester Road by 8am on Thursday morning.

An exhaustive clean-up is being carried out by expert contractors on a site that's been occupied by travellers in Market Harborough.An exhaustive clean-up is being carried out by expert contractors on a site that's been occupied by travellers in Market Harborough.
An exhaustive clean-up is being carried out by expert contractors on a site that's been occupied by travellers in Market Harborough.

Fencing has now been erected to cordon off the land and prevent a repeat of the incident before new permanent railings are installed.

The housebuilders' consortium which owns the land said their "team of contractors immediately secured the site by cordoning the land off with temporary fencing, following which a permanent low-level knee rail boundary will be installed".

They said they had drafted in "specialist contractors experienced in dealing with the detrimental environmental impact of the aftermath of an illegal traveller site".

A consortium spokesman said: "The consortium has committed to reinstating the land, returning it to its former natural, pristine condition and will also install low-level knee rail boundaries around other open areas to prevent illegal access in future."

He added: "We will continue to work with Harborough District Council, Leicestershire County Council, the Multi Agency Travellers Unit and the police to ensure we deliver the high-quality open spaces our master plan calls for."

The spokesman said they would continue to maintain the site near new homes "to the highest standard, providing a beautiful and sustainable natural environment for all local residents to enjoy".

The travellers pitched up on the green near the canal on the northern edge of Market Harborough on the night of Wednesday July 15.

They have been accused by disgusted local residents of scattering ripped bags of rubbish all over the land as well as leaving human waste in hedges and on the nearby canal towpath.

The landowner went straight to the High Court to secure a legal injunction to force the travellers to leave just hours after they had set up camp out of the blue.