BOURNEMOUTH council is taking legal action to attempt to move a group of travellers who arrived at Hengistbury Head on Friday.

Around 18 vehicles are parked at the car park of the Hungry Hiker Cafe at Hengistbury Head taking up valuable parking spaces at the popular visitor spot.

Since then council officers have visited the site to carry out a needs assessment. The council plans to apply for a court hearing date to get an eviction order.

Cllr Peter Charon, cabinet member for housing and procurement, said: "We would like to reassure residents that action is being taken following the recent arrival of travellers at Hengistbury Head.

"Bournemouth council officers and safer neighbourhood team officers are working together making daily visits to the site.

"We are currently applying to the courts for a hearing so that an eviction order can be obtained to move the travellers on.

"Once the travellers have moved from the site we will be working to ensure the site is made secure and cleaned if necessary. This latest incursion again highlights the need for an authorised traveller and gypsy site in the town.

"By having a dedicated site with decent facilities this situation could have been avoided altogether.

"Were traveller groups to disregard this transit site and stay in an unauthorised area the police powers to move them on would be greatly enhanced."

Several caravans also moved onto the car park at Tesco Extra in Castle Lane in the Littledown area of Bournemouth yesterday.

A spokesperson for Tesco said that they were talking to the travellers but not pursuing legal action to remove them at present.

She added: "They are in the car park and they are taking up spaces meant for customers."