MORE than a dozen traveller caravans and motor homes remain at Poole's Baiter Park.

The travellers moved onto the car park at Baiter on Friday evening, after leaving the Mayors Mead car park near Christchurch Quay.

Borough of Poole leader Elaine Atkinson said legal proceedings to evict the travellers was likely to start today.

Dorset Police have confirmed the eleven caravans, three motorhomes and associated vehicles are the same group who were in Christchurch earlier.

Mrs Atkinson said: "We cannot keep every open space in Poole secure, but last year we put in a number of defences on open spaces to try to avoid them taking up camp.

"My understanding is they are not causing a disruption or misbehaving so our officers will continue to work with them to persuade them to move on while we go through the legal process."

When council officers spoke to the group on Saturday, they insisted they would not be leaving during the bank holiday weekend.

The encampment is spread out across the whole of the car park, and when the Echo visited the site yesterday, it appeared only a few other vehicles were parking there.

The same car park has been used by travellers for at least the past two years.

If borough officials are successful in securing a court eviction order, the travellers will have just 24 hours to vacate the area after it has been served.