TRAVELLERS who have moved onto St Matthews Field in Bridgwater are set to be served with a court order telling them to move on.

Sedgemoor District Council has been following the strict legal procedures required in order to get the travellers to leave the site since they moved in at the end of last week.

A spokesman for the council said: "We have our solicitors in court today (Friday, May 19) to get an order which will tell the travellers to move on.

"This will be served to them this afternoon, requiring them to move forthwith."

District councillors for the Wyndham ward, Gill Slocombe and Rachel Caswell, said the council had been working hard to rectify the situation.

Cllrs Slocombe and Caswell released a joint statement which said: "It is a very sensitive area and one where there are legal processes to go through before you can actually extradite them from the field. 

"Sedgemoor District Council has put all these measures in place, but it is a very frustrating time for everyone."

Meanwhile, police are investigating a spate of criminal damage in the St Matthew's Green area, with reports of break-ins to sheds owned by the nearby allotment association.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We are investigating several reports of sheds that have been damaged in the area. The incident took place between 9pm on Wednesday, May 10 and the following morning.

"Our enquiries are ongoing but no one has been arrested at this stage. 

"If anyone has any information please ring 101 and quote the crime reference number 5217-105790."

Cllrs Slocombe and Caswell added: "As ward councillors we have been in contact with the police continually over this period, and there will be meetings following this incident to try and find a better way forward to stop this continually happening."