AN illegal encampment of travellers is set to enjoy a prime view of the Bournemouth Air Festival after the council admitted it cannot evict them before September.

Around six caravans managed to get into the car park near Monkey Island on the East Overcliff, despite enhanced security measures.

And now they have set up camp, all the council can do is hope they leave before the town's four-day air festival begins on Thursday.

The car park is due to be used as disabled parking for air festival visitors and the East Overcliff will also be closed to traffic on every day of the festival.

Bournemouth council is due to go to court on Wednesday to obtain an eviction order but councillors have been warned this will not be able to take place until September.

In an email to councillors, community parks and countryside officer Brian Heppenstall said: "We have been pre-warned by both the court bailiffs and the Dorset Police that no evictions can take place until September 1 at the very earliest, due to resources."

Following the last incursion on the East Cliff, the council placed massive boulders along the verges to deter travellers.

But East Cliff and Springbourne ward councillor Anne Filer said: "They got in despite all the rocks, they must have gone in through the car park. There is a height restriction at the entrance but they must have gone over the grass.

"Residents are not happy about it but we are doing everything that we can. People are calling for more defences but we don't live in a fortress. You can't fortify the whole of the public open space in Bournemouth."

Air festival director Jon Weaver said he was hopeful the travellers would move on to the Dorset Steam Fair before the air festival began.

"If they do stay, the issue we have got is what we do with the disabled parking," he said. "We've got until Thursday so we will have to see what the position is then.

"They will also have to obey the road closure orders so they will find their movements restricted. But they will undoubtedly have a great view of the air festival."